UFC 222 needs a big fight and Frankie Edgar and Cody Garbrandt are more than willing to provide one.
Max Holloway’s leg injury only highlighted the UFC’s problem of having thin undercards on PPV events. Once his featherweight title defence against Frankie Edgar fell apart, so did UFC 222.
A month out from the fight, a heavyweight duel between Stefan Struve and Andrei Arlovski is top of the bill. No disrespect to either competitor, but that’s not a fight that will rake in many PPV buys. So in an effort to save it, the UFC got a little desperate.
Offers were made to TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt to rematch their bantamweight title fight on short notice. Dillashaw, who is currently undergoing rehabilitation for injuries, rejected the fight. However, the healthier of the two original headliners is willing to show up on fight night.
I'm down for anyone, any fight, any weight class. Let's save this fight card! @danawhite @seanshelby @Mickmaynard2
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) February 5, 2018
This is an admirable move from Edgar. With no belt on the line, he will likely take a pay cut if he accepts another opponent for UFC 222. That being said, Nate Diaz has made it known he is interested in returning on the card. If he was matched up against the Stockton native, he would likely enjoy a decent PPV points boost.
If the Diaz fight doesn’t happen, the other guy who was willing to step in is game. Former bantamweight king Garbrandt accepted Edgar’s offer on Twitter. He let his manager know that as long as he gets paid, he’s down to fight ‘the Answer’.
https://twitter.com/Cody_Nolove/status/960673026193764352
These two are real warriors. Despite the risk of losing his number one contender spot, Edgar is willing to fight anybody. As for ‘No Love,’ moving up a weight class to fight a veteran as crafty as Edgar is pretty damn admirable.
If all parties are willing, this wouldn’t be the worst replacement main event.
