Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar endured a nasty knockout over the weekend against Marlon Vera.
Vera landed an Anderson Silva-esque front kick to Edgar’s face in round three. The KO defeat marked the second loss in a row for Frankie Edgar at bantamweight. The fight was extremely competitive. While both athletes had moments throughout the contest, “Chito” intended to leave the judges with no added work at the end of the fight. The Ecuadorian threw his name into title contention with such an outstanding KO performance. Despite Edgar protesting the stoppage, it was clear that Vera did enough to secure the finish.
Brutal 😮
Check out Frankie Edgar’s face immediately after @chitoveraUFC landed his walk off KO#UFC #UFC268 pic.twitter.com/MkGFrNb3EG
— All Access MMA (@AllAccessMMA247) November 8, 2021
Frankie Edgar Leaves Door Open For Another Fight
Prior to facing Frankie Edgar, Marlon Vera picked up a dominant decision victory against England’s Davey Grant. Despite suffering a unanimous decision defeat to the great Jose Aldo, Vera’s recent showing puts him in a great spot as far as future fights are concerned. With a win against rising UFC star Sean O’Malley, surely fans may see “Chito” fighting for gold sooner than later.
Conversely, Edgar is now on a two-fight skid, but still believes he is more than capable of competing with the best in the UFC. Speaking on his podcast, Champ and the Tramp, Frankie Edgar addressed his fans and spoke about the chaotic UFC 268 aftermath. While some have called for his retirement after the devastating knockout, it appears “The Answer” hasn’t quite broached the topic.
“For those who want to know what I’m thinking I figure the best way to share was on my podcast @champandthetramp. I’m proud of my team and the way we prepare, I have always been ready for a fight and I want to thank them for that. To my family thank you for your sacrifices you make along side me in this journey to achieve I love you all. To my fans that stick by my side no matter the outcome I appreciate every single one of you. Congrats to Chito best of luck moving forward, this Bantamweight division is a murders row. I see ya when I see ya! #Fe” Frankie Edgar posted on Instagram.
Despite having a successful debut at 135-pounds, Frankie Edgar is now 1-2 in his last three appearances at bantamweight. Of course, the former champion has been tasked with facing top-tier competition; one has to wonder how much gas is left in the tank of the 40-year-old legend.
Who would you like to see Frankie Edgar fight next?
