Frankie Edgar thinks continued featherweight talk disrespectful to past opponents

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

It took very little time after UFC 144 for fans and media to begin talking about the potential of Frankie Edgar moving to featherweight. Having just lost his UFC Lightweight Title in a close fight with Ben Henderson, the move seemed to many to be a sensible one.

After all, Edgar has always been one of the smallest fighters in the lightweight division. He continued competing in the division because it was what was available in the UFC, and even though he had a lot of success, a move to 145 lbs. would just make the most sense, right?

But Edgar isn't hearing any of that. He has no plans on moving to 145 lbs. at this time, and wasn't sure why so many were so adamant that he do just that.

"At the time I was just so upset I just lost my title and everything, I don't think I was even thinking about what anybody was really asking," Edgar said in an interview with MMAWeekly.com. "In hindsight, I guess you could say I don't know if you'd call it disrespectful, people have got a job to do, and [dropping to 145] is something that Dana was kind of hinting to, so I think the media was just following suit a little bit."

Still, Edgar thinks those calling for him to move down aren't being very fair to him, or his past opponents in the lightweight division.

"I've been so dominant at this weight class," he said. "I beat some very good guys, and I don't feel it's disrespectful towards me, I feel it's disrespectful towards them."

Ultimately, Edgar is staying at 155 lbs., and will get an immediate rematch with Henderson this summer.

Penick's Analysis: I don't think it's disrespectful Edgar to talk about the potential he has at 145 lbs. I also don't think it's disrespectful to his opponents. No one is saying he shouldn't be competing at lightweight, or that fighters shouldn't be losing to him because of his size. The argument for him to move down is more that he's not necessarily at his full potential at lightweight, and his skills might translate even more effectively at 145. There isn't a question that he's a phenomenal fighter, and whether he's at lightweight or featherweight he'll be able to be successful. Still, when it's something he doesn't want to do, the constant talk of it was surely an annoyance. For now, at least, he can move forward and plan for his second fight with Henderson.

[Frankie Edgar art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_12765.shtml

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