In the main event at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber, former world champions collide as Frankie Edgar (18-4-1 MMA; 12-4-1 UFC) takes on Urijah Faber (32-7 MMA; 8-3 UFC). This five round Featherweight fight caps off the six fight UFC Fight Night main card. The UFC Rankings have Edgar as the #2 contender at 145 pounds. Faber is unranked at Featherweight, though is #3 at Bantamweight. UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber airs live from Manila this Saturday, May 16. The main card airs on Fox Sports 1 with an early fight time of 10:00 a.m. ET / 7:00 a.m. PT, with the prelims starting at 8:00 a.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 and bright and early at 7:00 a.m. ET on Fight Pass.
Let me come right out and say it – this fight is awesome. You have here the former top dog in the UFC Lightweight division, who has been an elite level Featherweight since making the drop down, taking on the man who for quite some time was seen as the definitive US Featherweight fighter, and has been looking great as a Bantamweight in recent years. It’s also a wonderful stylistic match up between two action packed, high paced fighters. Seriously, if you are not into this one, you are a grump.
How do these two stack up?
Edgar: 33 years old | 5’6″ | 68″ reach
Faber: 35 years old | 5’6″ | 67″ reach
What have these two done recently?
Edgar: W – Cub Swanson (Sub) | W – B.J. Penn (TKO) | W – Charles Oliveira (UD)
Faber: W – Francisco Rivera (Sub) | W – Alex Caceres (Sub) | L – Renan Barao (TKO)
How did these two get here?
Frankie Edgar is the former UFC Lightweight champion with three successful defenses of that belt. After going 0-3 in 2012/13 there were questions about his future, but he’s 3-0 since with all wins coming against high level opposition in the Featherweight division (well, in one case, FORMERLY high level opposition). But he’s in a tough spot – unlikely to beat Aldo, but able to beat virtually every other Featherweight. Once upon a time, that was Rich Franklin’s lot in life, and it’s also been the home of Urijah Faber for some time. When you reach that crossroads, superfights make sense, so this is the perfect match-up for him right now.
Urijah Faber’s career trajectory has a lot of similarities to Edgar’s. Former champion? Check. Move to a new division? Check. Wins over top level opponents, but losses to champions? Check. Since losing his WEC Featherweight title in 2008, Faber has one of the most fascinating streaks in MMA history: undefeated in non-title fights, winless in title fights (and he’s had an astounding 6 straight title fight losses now). So, like Edgar, there’s not a lot for him – although the Bantamweight title moving to his Team Alpha Male partner T.J. Dillashaw could potentially set him up for yet another title fight. Still, I like him in superfights, and I like him fighting here. This will be his toughest non-title fight ever and it could very well be the one to snap his streak.
Why should you care?
It’s just an awesome fight. What else need be said?
About the author
