Each UFC weight class has a legendary fighter. Whether it’s Conor McGregor in the lightweight division or Chuck Liddell in the light heavyweight division, the promotion is defined by the best fighters in each weight class. For Frankie Edgar, he’s a little different.
“The Answer” (24-11-1) made his living in different divisions, dominating the competition. But what made Edgar a one-of-a-kind talent? What major rivalry defined his career–and the promotion?
Frankie Edgar’s Profile
The UFC Hall of Famer is well-known for his grappling skills, being able to break his opponents down easily. Frankie Edgar has a decorated background as a wrestler, qualifying four times at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
His first UFC fight was against Tyson Griffin at UFC 67, where he outlasted a deep kneebar at the end of the fight to win via decision. From there, Edgar would win the UFC Lightweight Championship, with three successful title defenses.
Other accolades “The Answer” would earn include “Knockout of the Night” (against Gray Maynard), “Performance of the Night” (twice, once against Cub Swanson and once against Chad Mendes), and being the 2010 Fighter of the Year.
Frankie Edgar vs. B.J. Penn
Perhaps his most decorated rivalry was with B.J. Penn, where the two fought for the UFC Lightweight Championship. Frankie Edgar won the first bout at UFC 112 via decision, claiming the title. He would win the rematch at UFC 118 via decision, defending his title successfully.
In fact, the rivalry earned its own card, with Team Edgar vs. Team Penn becoming a reality on July 6, 2014. Edgar would win in the third round via TKO (punches) in the third round, giving him the victory at Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Overall, Team Edgar won the card altogether, with Corey Anderson and Matt Van Buren facing off in the finals. While the rivalry might’ve been a bit one-sided, it helped define the UFC today. In turn, it made the promotion better, selling pay-per-views and television views.
Where is Frankie Edgar Now?
Now, Frankie Edgar is a part of the KHK MMA Fight Team, a Bahrain-based fight promotion. “The Answer” has also spent time as a color commentator, working with the Brave Combat Federation. Edgar is also an assistant coach for the University of Rutgers wrestling team.
Without Edgar, UFC fighters wouldn’t have ventured out of their weight classes and tried new things. The native of Tom’s River, New Jersey, caused a renaissance in this department, with fighters like McGregor following suit.
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