“Whatever he wants.”
That’s what Dana White said after ‘The Answer’ wiped the floor with Chad Mendes at the TUF 22 Finale, last December.
Edgar wanted Conor McGregor and a shot at the featherweight title. He got Jose Aldo and a shot at the interim featherweight title.
Hours after the UFC 200 fight was announced, Edgar told Fox Sports he always suspected McGregor was ducking him. He said:
“Dana called me [on Wednesday]. I heard speculation that’s what they might want, but nothing concrete and then Dana called and asked me.
“My reaction? I said yes. What the f**k am I going to do?”
The winner of Aldo-Edgar has been told they will fight McGregor to unify the belts. If it is the New Jersey native, the fight may well be at the first PPV the promotion holds in New York, later this year.
“Let’s just call it the No. 1 contender belt cause that’s what it really is. But I’ll play the game.
“They did it for Conor, they gave him a belt and if I’ve got to play the whole Conor game to make sure I get this fight, I’m okay with it.”
Edgar is predicting a similar demise for McGregor as his submission loss to Diaz at UFC 196. Consecutive defeats are the only way he believes McGregor would drop back to the 145lb division.
“I don’t know if a win will make him come back, maybe a loss he’d have to come back. Two losses in a row that’s supposedly up two weight classes – it’s 155-pounders not wanting to cut weight is what it really is. He’ll lose a lot of that value I think.
“The more losses you tack on… you’re going to have a champion come back after a two-loss stint up a weight class? It just doesn’t all add up to me.”
After taking down Aldo, he says, he will fight McGregor at 145, 155 or even 170.
Gold first, pay-day later.
