Frankie Edgar was supposed to receive his third featherweight title shot at UFC 222, but an injury to reigning champion Max Holloway spoiled those plans.
Rather than bow out of the event altogether, Edgar elected to accepted a dangerous bout against Brian Ortega, with the winner moving on to face Holloway at a later date. What resulted was a disheartening defeat for the 36-year-old New Jersey native, as he was finished for the first time in his 29-fight career. The end came in devastating fashion: Ortega rocked Edgar with a standing elbow, floored him with a massive uppercut and sealed the victory with a pair of hammerfists on the mat 4:44 into round one.
After the fight, Holloway took to Twitter to offer praise for “The Answer.”
“You had nothing to gain from taking that fight [Frankie Edgar]. But you took it; you defended what you already earned,” Holloway wrote. “There’s no belt for sacrificing everything, but true fans and Jersey knows no belt can outshine what you bring to the sport. Chin up bratha.”
You had nothing to gain from taking that fight @FrankieEdgar. But you took it you defended what you already earned. There’s no belt for sacrificing everything but true fans and Jersey knows no belt can outshine what you bring to the sport. Chin up bratha
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) March 4, 2018
Perhaps more surprisingly, Conor McGregor had some kind words for Edgar as well. The two would-be rivals never crossed paths when McGregor was in the featherweight division, but the Irishman recently claimed that he offered to step in on short notice to face Edgar at UFC 222 following Holloway’s withdrawal.
“Frankie’s career deserved for that to be against me tonight,” McGregor wrote. Respect Frankie. Love and respect always! A true fighters fighter.”
Frankie’s career deserved for that to be against me tonight.
Respect Frankie.
Love and respect always!
A true fighters fighter— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 4, 2018