Frankie Edgar Explains Why He Took a Fight at 135 Pounds
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Edgar, 38, has long been rumored to make his move down to the 135-pound division, given the majority of his career has been spent fighting guys a lot bigger than him.
“The Answer” will go in as the underdog against Sandhagen, who has
beaten the likes of Raphael
Assuncao and John
Lineker in his last two bouts and now has the chance to add a
former champion to that list with a win over Edgar.
Edgar spoke highly of his opponent during an appearance on “UFC Unfiltered” ahead of their matchup and explained why the bout benefits both fighters (via MMAJunkie.com).
“He’s very dangerous. He’s No. 3 (in the official UFC rankings), and I still want to fight the best guys in my career, and I feel like fighting No. 3 is a good way to debut at this new weight class,” Edgar said.
“For a guy like Cory to come in and fight someone like myself is definitely good for him, but to me, I’m looking at it (like) he’s No. 3, and it’s definitely a good way to get myself on a ladder in the 135-pound division,” Edgar said.
Edgar said the decision to move down a division and fight guys the same size as him was made even easier after his last fight when he took on featherweight kingpin Max Holloway, who dominated him from start-to-finish in a fight which highlighted Edgar’s clear physical disadvantage at that weight class.
“I don’t know, man. Everyone’s been telling for years to go down,” Edgar said. “My coaches were telling me for a while, and I fought for the [145-pound] belt a couple times, came up short. I felt like now’s the time if I’m going to do it ever.”
Despite moving down a weight class, Edgar’s next opponent in Sandhagen will actually hold a significant five inch height advantage over him, although it’s an advantage fewer bantamweights will have, he said.
“Hopefully you don’t fight guys as long and tall. This guy I’m fighting is just as tall, so it don’t matter, but maybe I can be the bigger guy,” Edgar said. “Although I don’t think I’ll be the biggest guy at bantamweight, but I’m not going to be giving up as much size as say, 145, but I mean you got to take into consideration the guys are going to be quicker down at bantamweight, as well. So it doesn’t mean it’s going to be smooth sailing 100 percent. Of course, each weight class has their own challenges.”
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