In the aftermath of Jose Aldo’s instant-classic title defense against Chad Mendes back in October at UFC 179, the choice for next featherweight title contender was a four-horse race. Both champion and challenger called out Conor McGregor, but highly-regarded featherweights Dennis Bermudez, Frankie Edgar, and Cub Swanson all saw themselves as deserving of the next shot at Aldo’s title.
Each of these men had their immediate paths clearly laid out in front of them. Bermudez was booked to fight Ricardo Lamas, who unsuccessfully challenged for Aldo’s title in February, at UFC 180. Edgar and Swanson were set to do battle in the main event of UFC Fight Night 57. Not to be outdone, McGregor is matched up against Dennis Siver in the main event of UFC Fight Night 59 next January.
Bermudez was the first to fall. A moderate favorite heading into the contest, “The Menace” saw his seven-fight win streak snapped as Lamas submitted him with a guillotine choke in the first round of their fight.
Swanson was next as Edgar dominated him from pillar to post. According to Fight Metric, “The Answer” landed 259 total strikes, 93 of which were significant, 16 passes, and seven takedowns en route to the latest finish in UFC history via neck crank. With that defeat, Swanson has lost to the champion of the division and the three top contenders (Edgar, Mendes, and Lamas) above him. He was finished by three of them and soundly beaten by the fourth, ostensibly eliminating him from title contention.
And then there were two. With Edgar and McGregor as the top two remaining featherweight contenders, the UFC has two very distinct paths it can take. One is best for business, and one preserves the purported meritocracy of the sport.
Of the two, Edgar has undoubtedly the better resume. He is a 17-fight veteran of the UFC, a former champion, and perennial contender. He also gave Aldo arguably the toughest test of his championship reign. He is also 3-1 at featherweight, winning three in a row since falling to Aldo in his first bout in the weight class. That’s one less win than McGregor in the weight class, but his win over Swanson is better than anything on the Irishman’s resume.
McGregor, on the other hand, has the potential to be the biggest star in the sub-170 weight classes since BJ Penn. He might be there already. To put his burgeoning stardom into perspective, while Aldo and Mendes were preparing for their title fight, the spotlight was solely on McGregor. The duelist from Dublin spent the weekend of the fight bandying about with UFC brass Dana White and Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, the final of which he insisted on referring to as “Uncle Frank the Fourth.”
As mentioned above, after Aldo and Mendes engaged in their classic affair both men set their sights on McGregor. His name was on the tip of everyone’s tongue that October weekend, and interest in him has only intensified.
For all the negativity surrounding the UFC’s ‘The Time is Now’ press conference, McGregor was the saving grace. Among the some of the most prestigious champions and legends the sport has ever seen, it was King McGregor holding court. If you don’t believe me just ask Tommy Toe Hold.
McGregor has certainly played the part so far, but it must be noted the UFC has done their part to help him along the way. McGregor is well-known for his striking but has yet to have his wrestling tested at a high level in the Octagon. Many believe, perhaps rightfully so, that he should have to get passed a wrestler (in a division full of them) before fighting for the title. Whether that is a risk the UFC wants to take remains to be seen. His next fight is a showcase bout in every sense of the word. Siver is a favorable matchup for him and the bout will take place in front of the closest thing you will find to an Irish crowd stateside.
That is the UFC’s dilemma.
After perhaps the most disappointing year in Zuffa-era UFC, they have someone on the cusp of bona fide superstardom. If the UFC shoehorns McGregor into a title fight despite never having faced a wrestler, they will risk alienating fans of the sport but would be booking the biggest title fight in featherweight history. With Edgar they have a true contender in every sense of the word but someone who has failed to make major waves at the box office.
Either way the UFC decides to go, fans of mixed martial arts will be waiting with bated breath. And that’s just the way it likes it.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @LWOSCarlucci. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter –@LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
For the latest sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
For more great MMA interviews with the biggest fight stars on the planet, remember to check out Hammer MMA Radio on 93.3 CFMU or find their latest episodes on LWOS. Hammer Radio features interviews from some of the industry’s biggest stars. You can find the latest on the Hammer @SteveJeffery.
