It looks like the angry masses have finally been heard. Former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar has confirmed that he has decided to move down to featherweight. After an extended period of prodding by UFC President Dana White, the New Jersey native has announced that he plans to make a December debut in the weight class. In making this announcement, Edgar begins a quest to become the third man in UFC history to become champion in two different weight classes. With those lofty goals set, here are some suggestions as to who should be at the head of the welcoming party for “the Answer.”
Chan Sung Jung
“The Korean Zombie” has surged in popularity since his upset victory over Dustin Poirier. After that victory he was named the top contender to the 145-pound championship, and is due to face whoever wins the contest between Jose Aldo and Erik Koch later this year at UFC 153. However, the UFC has been known to quickly change stances on who should be considered #1 contenders, so it would not be a surprising move if the UFC decided instead to match Jung with Edgar in December. While Jung has stated that he is only interested in waiting for the champion, this would be the biggest bout of his career, and a win would instantly transform him into a serious and credible contender in the featherweight division.
Matchup-wise, this would be a compelling bout because Jung is the type of fighter who attacks in volume while on the feet, though without the technical precision that Edgar possesses. Fans would expect Jung to continue pressing forward in an attempt to overwhelm the former champion, who would seek to use his footwork and accuracy to connect with strikes and move away. On the ground, Edgar does have a strong grappling base. However, Jung would hold the advantage in that area. This would certainly be a fast-paced bout from start to finish.
Mendes’ bid to regain his position as the number one contender began when he stopped Cody McKenzie in impressive fashion at UFC 148. The Team Alpha Male standout has been considered one of the top 145-pound fighters in the sport for a while now, but after being dispatched by Aldo in January, he spent an extended period of time outside of the cage. A contest with Edgar is the exact type of big money (pun intended) fight that would cement the winner as the true number one contender in the weight class.
Comparing these two fighters in the cage, it would be interesting to see which individual would be able to prevail in the takedown battle. Both fighters are wrestlers at heart, but Mendes tends to lean on that ability more than Edgar. In the past, Edgar has been able to deal with larger wrestlers such as Sean Sherk, Matt Veach, and Gray Maynard, all of whom struggled to keep him on the mat. It would be a captivating fight because we would find out whether Mendes could be successful where they were not, or if Edgar’s movement and striking would be too much for the former Cal Poly standout wrestler.
Riding a three-fight win streak, Lamas has forced his way into the contenders’ conversation. His recent win over Hatsu Hioki has given him a legit claim to the position; however, he may still be one fight away from a title shot. Welcoming Edgar to the division would put the Chicago native in a position to make a strong statement.
When you compare these two fighters, you can see that their fighting styles are very similar. Both athletes have built a solid foundation around wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Where they differ, however, is that Lamas has been more prone to taking fights to the ground faster, to use his grappling to maintain position, while Edgar has become entrenched in striking battles. Lamas may not be the biggest draw in the division at this point in time, but his resume has him ranked towards the top of the weight class, which would make this fight a strong start to Edgar’s featherweight campaign.
Debates around Edgar’s decision to move down a weight class will dominate the next few weeks of MMA conversation, while we anticipate the announcement of his first opponent. Though these suggestions represent the best choices, whoever is selected is sure to be a true test.
