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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The announcement last week that former two-division UFC Champ B.J. Penn would be dropping to featherweight to face Frankie Edgar a third time brought about a number of questions. Much of the discussion has centered around Penn himself and whether or not he'll even be able to make the featherweight limit in 2014, but perhaps the biggest question to ask is: what's in this for Edgar?
The UFC has given Penn the fight he wanted, along with a season of The Ultimate Fighter to coach on, but Edgar's already defeated Penn twice. And in the second fight, it was extremely decisive. Additionally, Penn has been beaten decisively in his last two outings, while Edgar bounced back from his three title losses to defeat Charles Oliveira in one-sided fashion in his last fight.
Edgar's now explained what appealed to him about the matchup, saying the exposure on The Ultimate Fighter was something he wanted to be a part of. It was also in part a favor to the UFC, and in part giving Penn the opportunity once afforded to him.
"I was willing to do it against Urijah [Faber], it would have been a good show, I just didn't want to go all the way down to 135. I thought maybe possibly get it at a catchweight or at 145," Edgar said in an interview with BleacherReport.com. "I guess Dana was milling that around, and somehow or another B.J. called him and said he wanted to fight [Benson] Henderson because he eventually wants to get to me, so Dana saw the opportunity to make it bigger with both coaches at 145 and it kind of works out that way."
"It's the opportunity of the show, it's the UFC asking me to do the show and it's B.J. Penn. He's a legend, he's one of the best lightweights ever. I know I beat him twice, he really thinks he can beat me. He gave me my title shot so why not give him a chance to kind of restart his career. I want to put a stamp on this one. I don't want anybody's mind doubting that I'm the man now. I'm the guy all the lightweights should be talking about."
Penick's Analysis: Edgar giving Penn a shot when that's what Penn gave to him is admirable. There's no reason to believe right now that a returning Penn, at featherweight, in 2014, is going to be able to get past Edgar, especially given how their last several years have gone. But it gets a couple of big names on TUF, and gives Penn one shot at redemption in an attempt to begin one last title run.
[Frankie Edgar art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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