LAS VEGAS — Every time Frankie Edgar races the to Octagon, a familiar track produced by DJ Premier and featuring the vocal stylings of the late Christopher Wallace echo through the venue. After Saturday night, the Toms River, New Jersey native is hopeful that the opening line of “Kick in the Door” is a prophetic precursor to how things play out in the featherweight division.
“Your reign at the top was short like leprechauns.”
Friday night, Edgar put himself in a position to attempt to bring the lyric to life with a stunning first-round knockout win over Chad Mendes, dropping the three-time title challenger to the canvas with a two-hook combination that left him reeling. With a fifth consecutive victory and a decisive finish in hand, the former lightweight champion sat at the post-fight press conference as UFC President Dana White declared him next in line for a featherweight title shot.
Now Miesha Tate will be quick to tell fellow fighters to take those decrees with a healthy serving of salt, but watching White revel in Edgar’s performance and state time and again that he would face the winner of Saturday’s main event made it seem like a certainty and with the quick, conclusive finish Conor McGregor delivered against Jose Aldo at UFC 194, an immediate rematch doesn’t appear to be in order, leaving Edgar as the first to face the newly minted undisputed champion.
“He’s got one more challenge and that’s me. I think I’m the guy to dethrone him at this point,” Edgar said in an impromptu scrum with reporters in advance of the post-fight press conference at the MGM Grand on Saturday evening.
“So you’re predicting a short reign?” asked veteran MMA journalist Damon Martin of FOX Sports.
“Yeah,” replied Edgar, already smirking.
The words “Did we heard those lyrics last night?” flew out of my mouth on beat, the familiar opening line from Edgar’s memorable walkout song (and a great track off an iconic hip hop album) embedded in my memory and fresh from the previous evening.
“Right?” Edgar answered, the grin on his face getting even bigger.
For the moment, all talk of a McGregor-Edgar match-up for the featherweight title is pure speculation; the Irishman has talked openly about embarking on a quest for gold as a lightweight and such a venture could potentially shelve or completely scuttle a date with the consensus No. 1 contender.
That being said, with Aldo going down in 13 seconds and Edgar standing at the front of the queue, it seems likely that the next title fight in the 145-pound ranks is between these two men and if “The Answer” had his druthers, it would take place close to home.
“I probably would rather fight sooner, but whatever the UFC wants. I’m not going to mess around with a title shot, especially against Conor,” answered Edgar when asked if he would be willing to wait until UFC 200 in July before competing again. “My preference is for Madison Square Garden to get done and I’ll fight him in New York in The Garden.
“That would be my preference but I don’t know how that’s gonna work out.”
As of right now, the UFC has booked April 23 at MSG with a pay-per-view event penciled in, but mixed martial arts remains illegal in the state of New York, leaving the potential of any fight – yet alone this fight – taking place on the hallowed grounds at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza just over for four months from now up in the air.
But even without a signed contract or a tentative date to work from, “The Iron Army” has already started preparations for a showdown with McGregor and their leader will be following suit shortly.
“I’m sure my coaches are already figuring it out,” Edgar said in regards to building a blueprint for bringing McGregor’s reign to a quick end, adding that he’s chomping at the bit to get back in the gym.
“I’ll take this week to spend with my family, but I’m coming; I’m coming for that belt.”
