Frankie Edgar: ‘Brian Ortega Pissed Off UFC, Maybe They Might Not Give Him Title Shot’

Brian Ortega, who worked hard to earn his featherweight title shot against reigning division champion, Max Holloway, but he lost that opportunity when ‘Blessed‘ yanked from UFC 226 main event due to concussion-like symptoms.

UFC offer ‘T-City’ the opportunity to face hard-hitting contender Jeremy Stephens on just two days notice, but Ortega turns it down and prefer to wait for Holloway for a title fight, once ‘Blessed’ recovered and ready. Due to that he pissed off promotion’s head Dana White, ended up not getting compensated.

Not only that, ex-lightweight champion Frankie Edgar says, he may lose more valuable stuff by no fault of his own. (Via MMAFighting)

“Everybody has their own reasons,” Edgar told TMZ Sports recently. “I took that fight because I wanted to fight, I wanted to get in there. He’s a young kid, maybe he thinks it’s too risky and he didn’t want to risk his chance but sometimes when you have a chance to fight for an interim title, you’ve got to jump on it because who knows? Now Brian’s pissed off UFC and company, maybe they might not give him that shot.

“I still think he deserves it. He worked towards it. I can see why he didn’t want to risk it but he’s got to realize what might come with that. When that title comes around you’ve got to jump at it because it can get taken from you even without you doing anything wrong.”

Edgar was in a similar situation to stepped in on short notice to face Ortega at UFC 222 when Holloway forced out due to a leg injury, ended up suffered a first-round knockout defeat, first ever stoppage and lost the title opportunity.

Former champion feels, in the waiting game he doesn’t want to lose the opportunity as the one offered to ‘T-City.’

“For me, I’m not gonna wait around and wait for a title shot or anything,” Edgar said. “I’m gonna let my shoulder heal up properly and get back training and see what happens. If there’s an opportunity, for sure I’m gonna jump on it. If not, I know The Garden is coming back in November [UFC 230 at Madison Square Garden on November 3] so that might make sense for me.”

Edgar is open to fight anyone, but anything closer to title fight league would be better, and he’s isn’t one of those fighters who turn down the showdown opportunity if he can physically take the challenge.

“Ideal is everybody gets hurt and I get to fight for the title,” Edgar said, laughing. “But it doesn’t matter to me at this point. I figure one good win over a good opponent will get me the next title shot, no matter who is up.”

Any guesses who should Edgar fight next?

Published on July 13, 2018 at 12:00 am
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