Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar is set to change weight classes. Following an unsuccessful run at the featherweight championship against Max Holloway at UFC 240, Edgar will be making the move down to 135-pounds.
The news was first reported by ESPN.com.
Edgar’s coach, Mark Henry, commented on the move which he says he has wanted Edgar to make for a while.
“It feels like a new beginning for us,” Henry said. “I love the kid, and I feel it will be safer for him at 135. He always does better when he fights guys his own size. When he’s fighting guys with similar height and range — sometimes they still weigh more than him, but I feel like it’s an even playing field.
“He was barely cutting any weight at featherweight. I think during this last camp, he was 152 pounds a few weeks before the fight. And he hadn’t started cutting yet.”
The former champion reportedly hopes to make his debut at bantamweight at UFC 244 which takes place at New York City’s Madison Square Garden,
Edgar then commented on the move on social media.
“The cat’s out of the bag! I’ve been reluctant to cut down my whole career but I feel like now is the time. Excited for a new beginning,” Edgar confirmed in a post on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0347FVpB48/?utm_source=ig_embed
The 37-year-old fighting out of Toms River, New Jersey is 3-2 in his last five fights with wins over Jeremy Stephens, Yair Rodriguez, and Cub Swanson. Along with his loss to Holloway, Edgar suffered a knockout loss to Brian Ortega. During his stint at featherweight, Edgar went 8-4 with three of his losses coming in title fights — the loss to Max Holloway and two losses to former longtime champion Jose Aldo.
If Edgar fights his way into the bantamweight picture, he could get a shot at two-division champion Henry Cejudo who has previously expressed interest in a fight with the former lightweight king.
