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Frankie
Edgar’s victory over Pedro
Munhoz immediately made him a person of interest in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship’s bantamweight division. Now “The
Answer” has his sets set on a fellow former champion.
During an appearance on Bruce Buffer’s
”It’s Time” podcast, Edgar expressed interest in a future
matchup with ex-bantamweight title holder Dominick
Cruz. Cruz returned to action after more than three years away
at UFC 249, where he suffered a second-round TKO loss to Henry
Cejudo in a title bout on May 9.
Edgar believes Cruz makes for an ideal pairing as he waits for the
title picture at the top of the bantamweight division to clear
up.
“Another guy that’s also a little older and a legend himself is
Dominick Cruz,” Edgar said (transcription via
MMAFighting.com). “A lot of people are still talking about
that, so I’m definitely interested. The title is obviously my main
goal, where my sight’s on, but it doesn’t have to be right away.
I’m willing to fight some of those legacy fights as well.”
Both Edgar and Cruz were UFC champions in 2011, although “The
Answer” was then competing at 155 pounds. Edgar also challenged for
the featherweight belt on multiple occasions before moving down to
bantamweight.
After an injury hiatus, Cruz returned to capture the bantamweight
crown with a five-round verdict over T.J.
Dillashaw in 2016. The Alliance MMA standout defended the title
against Urijah Faber
at UFC 199 before relinquishing the strap to Cody
Garbrandt at UFC 207. He didn’t fight again until falling to
Cejudo earlier this year.
“If you chase him, he’s really good at that, and you don’t want him
chasing you either,” Edgar said of the matchup with Cruz. “So I
think you got to mix it up and try a little cat and mouse game with
him.”
Edgar’s split-decision triumph against Munhoz came at UFC on ESPN
15 on Aug. 22, and the Toms River, N.J., native would like to
compete again before the end of the year. Whether that’s against
Cruz remains to be seen.
“I think before the year is out,” Edgar said about when he’d like
to return. “Before Christmas would be ideal. I just spoke with my
manager about wanting to get in there in December and he’s got some
ideas. I’m sure he’s gonna run it by the UFC soon.”
