Frankie Edgar to Conor McGregor: 'If he's got balls, he'll pick me'

[Punch]

Frankie Edgar states his case once again on why he deserves the next shot at Conor McGregor's UFC featherweight title.

Many people would agree that the next man who deserves a crack at the UFC featherweight world title would be Frankie Edgar.

"The Answer" was able to make a solid case for himself when he knocked out Chad Mendes in the first round of the TUF 22 Finale, a day before UFC 194 when Conor McGregor bagged the 145-pound title by KOing Jose Aldo.

Unfortunately for him, he was passed over when McGregor instead opted to go up ten pounds and contend for Rafael dos Anjos’ lightweight title. But when that did not materialize and UFC 196 happened, doors have seemingly opened once again for Edgar.

Right after his upset loss to Nate Diaz on Saturday night, "The Notorious" did make his intentions clear about dropping back down to featherweight to defend his belt. While Aldo has also been campaigning for his own rematch against McGregor, Edgar believes he is still the more logical option.

"If he's got balls, he'll pick me. It's easier to go in there and fight a guy you know you handled, you know you beat," Edgar said in an interview with ESPN. "But if he wants to come back after that loss to Nate and prove the doubters wrong, silence these rumblings about his ground game? He'll fight me."

"If he beats me, no one can say anything. That would almost erase the loss to Nate."

LINK to article: Frankie Edgar to Conor McGregor: 'If he's got balls, he'll pick me'

 

[Pitbull9]

Frankie has a heart the size of the USA, but i worry about his chin against a fucking monster puncher like Conor. Conor is also a finisher and if he smells blood its trouble for Frankie. Frankie really really needs to stick and move in mix those takedowns in like crazy and wear Conor out. This is for sure a fight I want to see for many reasons.

 

[Punch]

I want to see the best fight the best. Aldo had an historic FW run, but a 13 second ko is pretty damning for his case. I can see both sides of that argument. Frankie took Aldo to a close decision and is a fresh match up. My vote's for Frankie.

 

[Jehannum]

I thought Edgar and Cruz were just gonna spend the latter part of their career farming team alpha male

 

[Punch]

I thought Edgar and Cruz were just gonna spend the latter part of their career farming team alpha male

That would be a good fight between those two as well imo.

 

[Jehannum]

I have a lot of stupid things I'd like to say but I will keep it short and honest. I don't wanna see McGregor lose to Edgar and I really don't wanna live in a world where all the so called Edgar fans are crowing and crowing and fucking crowing. EDITED.

 

[Severianb]

It's crystal clear Frankie deserves the shot. He has looked like an absolute MONSTER in his recent fights. Total domination.

He looked FAR better against Full Camp Mendes than Conor did against No Camp Mendes.

No other matchup makes sense for Conor right now.

He tried moving up to 155 and got beat by a fighter coming in on short notice who wasn't even ranked in the top 5.

THE DREAM IS OVER CONOR. YOU ARE NOT AND WILL NOT BE COMPETITIVE, NEVER MIND CHAMP AT 155.

Go back down to 145, where you belong, and let Frankie get the shot he so richly deserves.

 

[Punch]

I have a lot of stupid things I'd like to say but I will keep it short and honest. I don't wanna see McGregor lose to Edgar and I really don't wanna live in a world where all the so called Edgar fans are crowing and crowing and fucking crowing. I wish them all a painful death in advance

That last line is overboard even in jest.

You think Cmac isn't capable of catching Frankie? It's certainly possible.

 

[Jehannum]

It's crystal clear Frankie deserves the shot. He has looked like an absolute MONSTER in his recent fights. Total domination.

He looked FAR better against Full Camp Mendes than Conor did against No Camp Mendes.

No other matchup makes sense for Conor right now.

He tried moving up to 155 and got beat by a fighter coming in on short notice who wasn't even ranked in the top 5.

THE DREAM IS OVER CONOR. YOU ARE NOT AND WILL NOT BE COMPETITIVE, NEVER MIND CHAMP AT 155.

Go back down to 145, where you belong, and let Frankie get the shot he so richly deserves.

I'd vacate and let Aldo and Edgar fight for the vacant strap and go up to 155 permanently. Then duck Khabib

 

[Jehannum]

That last line is overboard even in jest.

You think Cmac isn't capable of catching Frankie? It's certainly possible.

it wasn't in jest regardless of the smiley

anything can happen in fights and Edgar has been hurt before but it was against a huge 155er with better than average power (Maynard) and he still made it through the 5 round contest and managed to rack up enough points to get that draw. Then you look at the guys he's faced with decent boxing and he's edged them all out except for Aldo really, and takes them all down. He's really intelligent as a fighter too and now that McGregor has lost and with a list of negatives about his performance too, I'm struggling to see anything other than 50-43 Edgar or a TKO on the ground.

and yes I was "jesting" lol but I'm having flashbacks to his fights with BJ Penn and how awful the fans were.

EDIT: Oh I forgot it was your thread, I'll remove it.

 

[Jehannum]

It's crystal clear Frankie deserves the shot. He has looked like an absolute MONSTER in his recent fights. Total domination.

He looked FAR better against Full Camp Mendes than Conor did against No Camp Mendes.

No other matchup makes sense for Conor right now.

He tried moving up to 155 and got beat by a fighter coming in on short notice who wasn't even ranked in the top 5.

THE DREAM IS OVER CONOR. YOU ARE NOT AND WILL NOT BE COMPETITIVE, NEVER MIND CHAMP AT 155.

Go back down to 145, where you belong, and let Frankie get the shot he so richly deserves.

sorry to quote you again but 170 is not 155

 

[Ghost Bro]

Frankie has a heart the size of the USA, but i worry about his chin against a fucking monster puncher like Conor. Conor is also a finisher and if he smells blood its trouble for Frankie. Frankie really really needs to stick and move in mix those takedowns in like crazy and wear Conor out. This is for sure a fight I want to see for many reasons.

There WILL be blood to be smelled

Edgar's a tough motherfucker though.

 

[Punch]

it wasn't in jest regardless of the smiley

anything can happen in fights and Edgar has been hurt before but it was against a huge 155er with better than average power (Maynard) and he still made it through the 5 round contest and managed to rack up enough points to get that draw. Then you look at the guys he's faced with decent boxing and he's edged them all out except for Aldo really, and takes them all down. He's really intelligent as a fighter too and now that McGregor has lost and with a list of negatives about his performance too, I'm struggling to see anything other than 50-43 Edgar or a TKO on the ground.

and yes I was "jesting" lol but I'm having flashbacks to his fights with BJ Penn and how awful the fans were.

EDIT: Oh I forgot it was your thread, I'll remove it.

I really don't get why people transfer things that they see on other forums over here to TMMAC. We by and large (yes there are a few exceptions that do get addressed to those posters) don't behave like what you described.

Cmac's the 145 champ still, and regardless of his loss i'm still a fan. I don't ever want to not see the best fight the best. On a long enough timeline everybody will lose. That's just the nature of fighting, and the potential for negative fan interaction will not sway me from wanting to see top dogs go at it.

Perhaps it's because i don't find myself as a person tied up into the accomplishments of another human being, only my own. You see people that make sports teams, fighters, hell even their countries so closely interwoven into their own identities that when something goes poorly for those entities, it crumbles them. I don't get that, and i find it rather silly. I am me, not anybody else. To self identify with another human like that is setting yourself up for inevitable failure, because we all do in fact fail like Conor did the other night. Bandwagoning isn't for me, and never will be.

 

[teamquestnorth]

 

[Jehannum]

I think he was waiting to make eye contact with Nate and would have nodded in respect.
this shortened version makes it look worse than it was too.

this idea that he's shit scared thinking he's about to get mugged again is silly to me.

 

[Severianb]

sorry to quote you again but 170 is not 155

Conor and Nate are both 155lb fighters who simply didn't cut much if any for this fight and came in at 170.

Nate Diaz is not some 190lb dude who cut down to 170.

If they had fought at 155, the result would have been the same.

Conor is a non-issue at 155 and Nate proved that. Next up, Frankie taking his belt, after which, the hype train is over.

 

[teamquestnorth]

I think he was waiting to make eye contact with Nate and would have nodded in respect.
this shortened version makes it look worse than it was too.

this idea that he's shit scared thinking he's about to get mugged again is silly to me.

Im pretty good at analyzing mannerisms like that and what I came away with is that Nate broke him mentally.

This loss could send Conors career into a irreversable downward trajectory.

 

[HEATH VON DOOM]

I have a lot of stupid things I'd like to say but I will keep it short and honest. I don't wanna see McGregor lose to Edgar and I really don't wanna live in a world where all the so called Edgar fans are crowing and crowing and fucking crowing. EDITED.

So it bugs you that after the loss his detractors were acting like his fans were before the fight? There is a reason fighters like Conor and Rousey get so much love for winning and so much hate after a loss. You brand yourself as the bad guy and make stupid predictions you should be prepared to get clowned when you fail.

 

[Punch]

Conor and Nate are both 155lb fighters who simply didn't cut much if any for this fight and came in at 170.

Nate Diaz is not some 190lb dude who cut down to 170.

If they had fought at 155, the result would have been the same.

Conor is a non-issue at 155 and Nate proved that. Next up, Frankie taking his belt, after which, the hype train is over.

I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that Frankie beats him. I like Frankie, and i like Cmac. In fact you have to be a pretty shitty person for me to not like you in general, fighter or no.

If Cmac shores up his ground game a bit, and works on his TDD, he could indeed give Frankie a hard time on the feet. Time will tell however.

 

[Qat]

Conor is a non-issue at 155 and Nate proved that.

I think that is far too early to say. Far too early.

Frankie absolutely deserves it.

@Jehannum So you do not like Frankie, because? His fans? I wouldn't call myself a fan of anybody honestly, but I certainly support Frankie. He has never shown to be a bad dude afaik, is working hard and as gritty as they come. Also kind of always fought guys bigger than himself, and never backed down from anyone. How can you wish ill on the dude?

Are you into pro wrestling and liking the bad guys there by any chance?

 

[Sweets]

Quite fucking true Frankie.

 

[Sweets]

I have a lot of stupid things I'd like to say but I will keep it short and honest. I don't wanna see McGregor lose to Edgar and I really don't wanna live in a world where all the so called Edgar fans are crowing and crowing and fucking crowing. EDITED.

It's very unlikely Frankie beats Conor, hate is the reason a lot think he will.

 

[Sweets]

He looked FAR better against Full Camp Mendes than Conor did against No Camp Mendes.

LOL He looked like that cause Chads chin is gone.

 

[Severianb]

I think that is far too early to say. Far too early.

Frankie absolutely deserves it.

Well, can we at least agree Conor's next step NEEDS to be defending his belt at 145 against Frankie?

I'm sorry, but weight class jumping should be reserved for people who look totally indestructible. Conor no longer looks like that. He needs to step down from the failed dream of two belts and

A. Give up his 145 belt and move permanently for 155.

B. Defend his belt at 145 and forget about 155.

I'm glad he lost because I'm totally NOT a fan of one fighter having the ability to hold up TWO weight classes if he gets injured or decides to take time off.

 

[Punch]

It's very unlikely Frankie beats Conor, hate is the reason a lot think he will.

I see it more of a toss up, rather than "very unlikely". If Cmac can land some bombs on Frankie, yes it could be a quick (T)KO, but Frankie has very good standup as well, (his previous fights prove that) and i believe he's a better ground fighter currently.