Frankie Edgar-Chad Mendes Set For TUF Finale 22

A potential title eliminator in the featherweight division as Frankie Edgar steps into the octagon to battle Chad Mendes.

Brazilian website Lancenet first reported the booking, and MMAjunkie subsequently confirmed the contest with multiple people with knowledge of the booking who spoke in the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to publicly discuss such matters.

For Mendes, this is his chance to shake off a recent TKO loss to McGregor at UFC 189 and inject himself back into the title picture.

Edgar is now ranked No. 3 in the latest NOS Energy Drink MMA featherweight rankings, while Mendes checks in at No. 5. Edgar is also included in the top 15 pound-for-pound list.

It looks like fight fans will treated to a key featherweight fight in December.

For Edgar, who is coming off notable victories over Urijah Faber, Cub Swanson and Oliveira, will surely earn a title shot opposite the victor of Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGreor at UFC 194 if he’s able to debunk Mendes’ strong wrestling and one-punch knockout power.

Edgar (19-4-1) will be looking to extend his winning streak to five, after decisioning Urijah Faber in May. “That was the original plan”, McGregor explained when speaking to FOX Sports in Las Vegas. Tony Ferguson is also scheduled to fight fellow lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov at the event.

While he was excited to coach against Mendes, and eventually fight him after, McGregor admits that once the UFC picked Faber, he lost all of his excitement.

He has repeatedly said that things would have been much different had he undergone a full training camp.