Despite a losing streak with two fights and whispers that his time was over, UFC legend Frankie Edgar proved on Saturday that his decision to lose weight was anything but a despair.
Edgar, 38, made his bantamweight debut a success by finishing at no. 5-ranked Pedro Munhoz by split decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night. The victory, over five exciting and close rounds at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, could drive the former lightweight champion into the title picture in his third division.
Two judges scored the fight 48-47 for Edgar, while the third judge had it 49-46 for Munhoz. CBS Sports scored it 48-47 for Munhoz.
“Three weight classes and I proved I can compete with 38 with the best,” Edgar said. “I do not want to hear anything from anyone.”
After years of fighting against bigger opponents in the field weights and lightweight divisions, Edgar (24-8-1) was the taller and taller man in this important bantamweight camp. He came in at 135.5 pounds, but maintained his fitness at championship level by going five hard laps and regularly dictating the pace while boxing from the outside.
“It was a whole fight and Pedro was a stud,” Edgar said. “I heard a lot of barking that I was old and slow. I proved them all wrong. I still have some gas in this tank, baby, and I think I can make a run at 135.
“If anything, I felt better [stamina wise] then I was at another weight not to carry the extra pounds. “
Munhoz, a 33-year-old resident of Brazil, established himself as the bigger puncher early on and continued to land with Edgar’s frantic pace through fierce counter shots and keep the fight in the stand-up despite Edgar’s attempts to get to the ground to go.
Each time, it looked like Munhoz (18-5, 1 NC) was about to set up a finish, though Edgar’s legendary can held strong and responded with busy combinations. Munhoz came across a cut to his left eye in Round 2 and entered the final stanza, after Edgar did the same, as the action only increased each round.
The judges sat down with a difficult decision to favor Munhoz’s heavier shots than Edgar’s activity. It’s a debate that could have swung in Munhoz’s favor thanks to the visual toll his hard shovels kicked in causing Edgar to knock and stumble.
However, the fact that Edgar did not bend or want to despite being hit late in Round 4 when he was visibly tired probably helped him on the scorecards, as he held his own with Munhoz in a very exciting final.
The win puts Edgar potentially close to a shot at Petr Yan’s new belt, considered UFC book aging legends Dominick Cruz and Jose Aldo in the last two bantamweight title fights despite both earning less than Edgar is right now.
“I just got my feet wet and I think the air is the limit for me [at bantamweight,]”Say Edgar.” I did not look into it slowly. Pedro is a top dog and that still makes me a top dog. ”
CBS Sports was with you all the way on Saturday, updating you with the latest results and highlights which you can view below.
UFC Fight Night results
- Frankie Edgar def. Pedro Munhoz via split decision (48-47, 46-49, 48-47)
- Mike Rodríguez def. Marcin Prachnio via first round TKO (strikes)
- Joe Solecki def. Austin Hubbard via submission of first round (standing back naked choke)
- Shana Dobson def. Mariya Agapova via second round TKO (strikes)
- Daniel Rodriguez def. Dwight Grant through first round TKO (strikes)
