A closer look at Max Holloway vs. Frankie Edgar
This weekend the octagon travels back to Canada with a main event that is for featherweight gold.
Two absolutely guaranteed future Hall of Famers are set to collide in what is set to be a very intriguing contest.
Max Holloway has reigned supreme over the featherweight division in recent times, but after a failed move up to lightweight, his return to the division where he has had so much success has some added interest.
After losses earlier in his career to huge names including Connor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, the pride of Hawaii has been close to unstoppable at the 145 pound limit.
In an incredible winning streak, he beat the likes of Cub Swanson, Ricardo lamas and Jeremy Stephens en route to a shot at the interim title against Anthony Pettis.
He dismantled the former lightweight champion in impressive fashion and would then take on Jose Aldo in his back garden of Brazil.
In two ‘passing of the torch’ contests and genius striking displays, Holloway would defeat Aldo once in Brazil and once in the States to prove that he was the future of the division.
In his second defense, he went to war against Brian Ortega. Despite going in as the underdog with the bookmakers, he reminded people that he is a generational talent and forced the contest to finish after the fourth round.
However, despite his success as a featherweight, his move up to lightweight didn’t go to plan as he was defeated for the interim title by Dustin Poirier.
His move back down in weight posts many a question. How is he going to perform after a loss which brought an end to a sensational winning streak? In addition, how will he handle fighting back down at 145 pounds?
A man, who will be desperate to prove that the answers to both those questions are negative for Holloway, is a fellow legend, Frankie Edgar.
Although in the twilight of his career, it would be foolish to write off one of the most popular fighters of recent times. A warrior who has seen absolutely everything there is to see in the sport and is inspired to wear UFC gold one last time.
After winning and defending the lightweight title against BJ Penn, he would make history in an incredible contest with Gray Maynard before ultimately losing his belt to Benson Henderson.
His frame however was far more suited to the division below. Although he lost his next world title fight to Jose Aldo in his debut in the division, he would certainly still impress at 145. Two wins against Uriah Faber and Chad Mendes would earn him another shot at Aldo. Sadly for him, he would once again miss out on gold.
He bounced back in wonderful fashion with victories over rising prospect Yair Rodriguez and Jeremy Stephens and it seemed set that he would meet Holloway for the belt. Sadly, in a short notice contest, he lost via KO for the first time in his career in horrifying fashion against Brian Ortega.
But in typical Edgar fashion, he jumped right back on the horse and defeated Cub Swanson to earn himself the main event slot at UFC 240.
In a fight fans can’t afford to miss, one man looks to prove that he’s still the best on the planet, while the other dreams of the fairytale end to a terrific career. Neither man can afford a loss, which give it all the credentials to be one of the best fights of the year.
