A little beef seems to brewing between top Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight contenders Cub Swanson and Frankie Edgar.
Or rather, Cub and Frankie's management team.
Swanson didn't take too kindly to what he believed was "shady" action on behalf of Edgar's camp and management, mainly Ali Abdelaziz and Renzo Gracie, for announcing a fight that hasn't been confirmed between the two men via Twitter.
See the Tweets in question here.
While some might view those as simple suggestions, Swanson sees it as confirming fights that just aren't real.
Props to Frankie's camp for announcing fights that aren't even real. Shady management at its finest!
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 29, 2014
Joe Silva you are not.
Indeed, the Zuffa-owned company did announce that it would stage UFC on FOX 13 at the U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 13, 2014. Soon thereafter, rumors were running rampant that Swanson vs. Edgar would be the main event; which may or may not have been aided by Team Edgar's tweets.
According to Edgar himself, who recently spoke to MMA Junkie, he and Cub will eventually have to fight sooner or later, so it's better they get it over with now.
His words:
"I think I'm probably his toughest fight, his toughest out, his toughest way to the title. But if you want to be the champ, you've got to go beat everybody. If he doesn't fight me now, he's going to have to fight be sooner or later. Might as well get it done now. We've got time. I think it's the fight that makes the most sense. To sit around and wait for those guys to fight? I think this makes more sense."
In addition, "The Answer" says if Cub accepts the fight, it will give the Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA-trained fighter the chance to fulfill his desire to punch him in the face while waiting on his title shot.
This, after it was being discussed that the two 145-pound contenders were in the running to face Chad Mendes for an interim title.
"Ali suggested that fight, and it seems like it's gotten a great response in social media. Let's give the fans what they want: I'm ready to fight the best. I know if I want that title, I've got to fight everybody in front of me, and Cub's that next guy, so let's make it happen. I'm not one to really talk junk. I'm just saying what it is. Let's do this. I think he said a little while ago he wouldn't mind punching me in the face. You can't punch me in the face unless we fight. Let's fight. He's been saying some things, and then when it comes down to fight, we don't get to fight. I think I'm going to be the guy to fight for that title next, and I'd like to get it done with Cub first."
Now that Mendes has been re-booked to face Jose Aldo at UFC 179 on Oct., 25, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the real featherweight title, an interim belt will not be necessary.
Still, that doesn't mean that Edgar and Swanson can't throw down in the meantime, right?