Frankie Edgar: 'Smart' Conor McGregor won't fight at featherweight because he has everything to lose

Frankie Edgar insists Conor McGregor's days competing at featherweight are long gone, despite the fact that he is the division champion with no title defenses to speak of.

And while "The Answer" also believes "Notorious" is avoiding him at all costs, he also suggests the Irishman hasn't competed at 145 pounds in a while -- preferring to ply his trade at welterweight -- because he has everything to lose.

Multiple losses at 170 pounds, however, won't affect him much.

That's because he has built-in excuses if he continues to fight bigger men than him, as Edgar recently clarified on The MMA Hour.

"At 145 he has everything to lose. At 170, he has nothing to lose. I mean, even though Nate is a 155-pound guy, and he decided not to cut weight so they could go around and market the fact that he's going up two weight classes; which is ridiculous because he is fighting Nate Diaz who is a 55 pounder. If he loses at 70, well then, 'Oh, he was too big, he's fighting guys bigger than him.' At 145, he loses then he has nothing. He loses his title, then what? He has a really hard time making that weight anyway, and if he goes to 55, he is not going to be in the title talks for a while, Conor is a smart guy. The way he promotes himself, the fights he gets, he's a very smart guy, good coaches around him and they are making the right decisions for his career."

Conor was forced to tap to Diaz at UFC 196 after the submission ace locked in a rear-naked choke on the 145-pound champion earlier this year (see it).

With the two men are set to run it back at UFC 202 on Aug. 20, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada (details), popular belief is that win, lose, or draw, McGregor's next bout will be a title unification match against the winner of Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar -- which will be for the interim division strap at UFC 200 on July 9, also in "Sin City."

For Edgar, the dream scenario is taking out Aldo, then getting his much-desired title fight against Conor at UFC 205 on Nov. 12, 2016, which is set to pop off at Madison Garden Arena in New York City.

Of course, "Notorious" still has to agree to a title defense, something he has failed to do in any promotion throughout his career after winning belts in multiple divisions.