The way Frankie Edgar sees it, there’s no one more deserving than him of fighting Conor McGregor at UFC 200 in July.
Edgar (19-4-1), the former Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion riding a five-fight winning streak, is said to be in contention with former featherweight champion Jose Aldo of Brazil to fight Ireland’s charismatic McGregor in the main event of UFC 200 July 9 at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
While Aldo beat Edgar in 2013 as part of his 10-year-long unbeaten streak, the Brazilian lasted only 13 seconds against McGregor in December, getting knocked out by a sudden punch to the jaw.
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“I’ve got a lot of traction, got a lot of buzz going on that this is the fight the fans want,” Edgar told The Times on Monday in a telephone interview. “I know [UFC President] Dana [White] is talking about it in the media, and I think Conor’s a man of his word about fighting the No. 1 guy out there … if that’s what he wants, it’s got to be me.
“The reason you watch fights is to see who’s the better guy, not to watch a guy get knocked out with one punch. I’m not taking anything from Aldo … but I felt he had his chance … and now I think it’s my time.”
Edgar said he suffered a groin injury about six weeks ago that prevented him from substituting for McGregor’s scheduled March 5 opponent, injured lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos (foot).
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Stockton’s Nate Diaz stepped in instead and fought McGregor in a welterweight fight at 170 pounds – 25 pounds over the featherweight limit – and McGregor succumbed to the fatigue of carrying the extra weight and to the power of Diaz’s heavier punches, losing by second-round submission in the main event of UFC 196 at MGM Grand.
“[McGregor] put that stuff on himself, he relishes it,” Edgar said. “I’m not surprised he lost, but those fans that support him are sticking by him. He’s still of great value, and he still has the 145-pound title. That’s what has the most value to me. I want to fight for that title.”
Edgar is encouraged by the fact he knocked out top-five featherweight contender Chad Mendes in the first round of their Dec. 11 fight, winning performance of the night. He’s also beaten current bantamweight title contender Urijah Faber, veteran former two-division champion B.J. Penn and another strong contender, Cub Swanson, during his winning streak.
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Conor McGregor, left, and Nate Diaz exchange punches during their welterweight fight at UFC 196 on March 5. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times )
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Nate Diaz takes down Conor McGregor during their non-title welterweight bout at UFC 196 in Las Vegas on March 5. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times )
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Nate Diaz grapples with Conor McGregor during their welterweight bout at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Nate Diaz takes down Conor McGregor during their UFC 196 fight on Saturday night.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Nate Diaz celebrates his win over Conor McGregor at UFC 196 on March 5. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Nate Diaz celebrates his win over Conor McGregor after their non-title welterweight fight at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Miesha Tate goes for a single-leg takedown against Holly Holm during their women’s bantamweight title bout at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Holly Holm, bottom, tries to fend off Miesha Tate during their women’s bantamweight title fight at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Holly Holm lands a big left against Miesha Tate during their UFC 196 women’s bantamweight championship fight.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Holly Holm, left, and Miesha Tate trade kicks during their women’s bantamweight title fight at UFC 196 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Miesha Tate takes down Holly Holm during their UFC 196 women’s bantamweight title fight. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Miesha Tate sinks the chokehold on Holly Holm that led to a submission in the fifth round of their women’s bantamweight championship fight at UFC 196 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Miesha Tate springs to her feet after defeating Holly Holm by submission in the women’s bantamweight championship fight at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Miesha Tate celebrates after defeating Holly Holm at UFC 196 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Gian Villante, left, tries to block a kick by Ilir Latifi during their bout at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Gian Villante, left, and Ilir Latifi grapple during their light-heavyweight fight at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Gian Villante, left, tries to prevent a takedown by Ilir Latifi during their light-heavyweight fight at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Valentina Shevchenko tries to land a knee against Amanda Nunes during their women’s bantamweight fight at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Valentina Shevchenko, left, sends Amanda Nunes reeling during their UFC 196 women’s bantamweight bout.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Valentina Shevchenko, left, tries to fend off the attack by Amanda Nunes in a women’s bantamweight bout at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Amanda Nunes has the upper hand during her UFC 196 bout against Valentina Shevchenko.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Amanda Nunes, left, has a kick blocked by Valentina Shevchenko during their UFC 196 women’s bantamweight fight.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Valentina Shevchenko, right, lands a right during her UFC 196 bout against Amanda Nunes.
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Valentina Shevchenko, bloody face and all, is ready for more action during her UFC 196 women’s bantamweight fight against Amanda Nunes.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Valentina Shevchenko was able to fend off the attacks by Amanda Nunes to win the women’s bantamweight bout by unanimous decision at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Corey Anderson, left, lands an overhand right against Tom Lawlor during UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Corey Anderson works from the top against Tom Lawlor during their light-heavyweight bout at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Corey Anderson, left, and Tom Lawlor trade blows during their light-heavyweight bout at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Corey Anderson takes down Tom Lawlor during their light-heavyweight fight at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Corey Anderson completes a takedown agianst Tom Lawlor during their UFC 196 fight.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Corey Anderson raises his arms after defeating Tom Lawlor in a light-heavyweight bout at UFC 196.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Brandon Thatch punches Siyar Bahadurzada during their bout at UFC 196.
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Brandon Thatch lands a kick against Siyar Bahadurzada during their UFC 196 bout.
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Siyar Bahadurzada celebrates after defeating Brandon Thatch during UFC 196.
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Vitor Miranda kicks Marcelo Guimaraes during their UFC 196 bout.
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Marcelo Guimaraes, left, and Vitor Miranda trade punches in the middle of the octagon during their UFC 196 bout.
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Nordine Taleb celebrates after defeating Erick Silva at UFC 196 on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
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Darren Elkins (top) slams Chas Skelly to the canvas during their UFC 196 bout on Saturday night.
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Diego Sanchez, left, follows through after punching Jim Miller during their bout at UFC 196.
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Jim Miller lands a kick against Diego Sanchez during their UFC 196 bout in Las Vegas.
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Julian Erosa attempts a kick against Teruto Ishihara during their bout at UFC 196.
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Teruto Ishihara sends Julian Erosa to the canvas before winning by a technical knockout in the second round of their UFC 196 bout.
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Jason Saggo celebrates after defeating Justin Salas at UFC 196.
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“I think it’s my time. After my fight with Mendes, Dana said I can get whatever I want,” Edgar said. “Now, McGregor’s coming back down to 145. Well, that’s what I want.”
Edgar, 34, said he expects McGregor’s next opponent to be announced “soon … the next week or so.
“I’m trying to think positive. If it’s up to Dana and [UFC Chairman] Lorenzo [Fertitta], I think I’ll get the fight.”
Fertitta did not immediately respond about plans for McGregor’s next fight.
“We have nothing done for 200,” White told The Times by text message Monday.
One key asset for Edgar is his reliability. He’s fought twice a year since 2007, when he fought three times, while Aldo postponed his McGregor fight due to a rib injury in training.
Clearly, the UFC doesn’t want UFC 200 marred by an injury.
“That’s not the only fight Aldo has had to pull out of because of an injury. He has a history,” Edgar said. “I’m not sure they want to bank on that guy again.”
