UFC
Frankie Edgar not focused on title talk, says "none of that matters" if he doesn't beat Cub Swanson
Nov 21, 2014 - 11:50:28 AM Frankie Edgar not focused on title talk, says "none of that matters" if he doesn't beat Cub Swanson

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar fights Cub Swanson on Saturday night in a fight which could bring one of them a title fight against Jose Aldo. Edgar feels he's worthy of that slot with a win over Swanson, but he's not pushing for it until after he gets the job done in Austin, Texas.

"I'm not focused on any of that. If I don't win this fight, none of that matters," Edgar said in an interview on Fox Sports 1's UFC Tonight program this week. "I've got to win this fight, then I go bug Dana about that."

"Lots of guys are talking. They're following Conor [McGregor's] lead. I'm just going to let my fighting speak for myself, and make it so they have to give me my shot."

Edgar understands he's got a difficult fight ahead of him in Swanson, and believes he's got to fight a smart fight against the hard hitting featherweight to come out on top.

"I have to be myself," Edgar said. "He's cocky, and he's got heavy hands. I have to stay technical and smart."

Penick's Analysis: For both fighters, all the title conversation swirling around this bout means nothing if they can't pull off a win, so Edgar's smart to keep his focus on the task at hand. He's the biggest test perhaps that Swanson's ever faced in the UFC, so there's a lot for both fighters to accomplish in this one, and looking ahead to the title conversation only serves as a distraction.

[Frankie Edgar art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]