Frankie Edgar

By FCF Staff

Frankie Edgar couldn’t have fought Conor McGregor at UFC 196 due to a torn groin, but the former lightweight champ believes the promotion disrespected him, in how they handled the situation.

McGregor was scheduled to fight Rafael dos Anjos on March 5th, but after breaking his foot in training, the lightweight champ was forced to withdraw. Nate Diaz has since been confirmed as his replacement, but Edgar has told MMA Fighting.com that the UFC also inquired about his availability. Edgar is upset, since he couldn’t take the fight as a result of his injury, but the New Jersey fighter also said this:

“I’m even more pissed that Dana’s insinuating that I ‘refused’ to take this fight, which is bullsh*t,” he said. “Just because they asked me doesn’t mean they were going to give it to me because guess what, in July they asked me to take the [UFC 189] fight on 15 day’s notice, which of course I accepted, and I still didn’t get it…”

“I feel like my integrity is something that I’ve built over the years and I’ve been such a good guy to the UFC, and then they’re going to throw me under the bus like I ‘refused’ to take this fight,” Edgar added. “I would take that fight in a heartbeat, even if I wasn’t training. If I was healthy enough, I would absolutely take that fight.”

Edgar is coming off a quick, stoppage win over Chad Mendes in December and is expected to challenge for the 145 title next. It remains to be seen, however, whether McGregor will return to featherweight to defend the belt.

The newly crowned champ has said he will, but more recently, there’s been speculation that if he wins at UFC 196, McGregor could be awarded a title shot at 170. That was before, however, RDA withdrew from the event.