A day before he steps into the Octagon at UFC 144 to defend his UFC Lightweight title, Frankie Edgar got a call from another champion to wish him good luck: New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck.
Fresh off his second Super Bowl title victory, Tuck talked to Edgar in his Japan hotel room Friday. The two-time Pro Bowl selection watched his UFC 136 title defense over Gray Maynard before a game earlier this season and drew some inspiration from it.
According to UFC Director of Communications Dave Sholler, NFL insider and UFC on Fuel host Jay Glazer helped put the call together.
“I really appreciate Justin reaching out to me in Japan,” Edgar said in a UFC release. “It means a lot to a kid from Jersey who grew up watching the Giants. He said they were all rooting for me tomorrow night. It definitely got me even more motivated.”
Edgar (14-1-1) enters Saturday’s fight against Benson Henderson (15-2) on a seven fight win streak, while Henderson has won all three of his UFC battles.