Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar had to fend off several attempts by UFC president Dana White to get him to move to featherweight.
However, after being forced to give rematches to both BJ Penn and Gray Maynard, Edgar eventually wore down the UFC brass and earned himself a shot at UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson.
The two will collide this Saturday night at UFC 150: Henderson vs. Edgar II from Denver. Henderson won the belt from Edgar earlier this year via decision in Japan.
“I was pretty set on getting the rematch,” Edgar said during Thursday’s pre-fight press conference. “The first fight didn’t go my way, I wanted a re-do and here we are.”
Edgar was asked how he convinced White to give him the shot and not make him go to 145 pounds.
“Dana thought I would be a good fighter at ’45, but I wanted the rematch,” Edgar said. “He let me know his reasons, and I told him my reasons.”
Photo credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting
