Frankie Edgar will eventually be a Hall of Fame mixed martial artist. In an incredible turnaround – mirroring his first title fight with Gray Maynard – Edgar looked to have been finished by vicious uppercuts in the opening round, yet miraculously he came back to dominate, then demolish Maynard by knocking him out in the fourth round. Edgar has everything. Movement, cardio, an incredible chin and the lion heart of a proven champion.
Dana White reckons Edgar is the best boxer in MMA. "It was better than Rocky. He is the Arturo Gatti of MMA. Frankie Edgar is No 2 in the pound for pound list," said White. "Anderson Silva is only better because he has not lost since 2006. He came back from being nearly knocked out, and stopped Gray Maynard. He's incredible."
"It's a real honour to be talked about in the same breath as these other guys. That's Dana's opinion, and it a personal thing," said Edgar. The little man from New Jersey held on to his UFC lightweight title after a horrific first round when he looked close to being knocked out. Edgar does not know the meaning of the word 'quit'. His incredible fitness – and chin – got him through the final two minutes of that torrid opening stanza, and after his head had cleared, he moved and boxed brilliantly. He must have been 10-8 down after the first round, but by the end of round three, he had popped Maynard's head and body off, and had drawn level in the contest. Maynard was mesmerised by his movement. Edgar then caught Maynard with three right hands to the head in the fourth, and the challenger crumpled like used clothes falling into a suitcase. Edgar pounced on him, and the fight was over. It was a staggering turnaround. Edgar deserves every plaudit which comes his way.
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