Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar, probably thought he was doing a good deed when he signed the cardboard cutout of himself for the patrons of Rivolis Restaurant at the Jersey shore, where “The Answer” was born and raised.
Then his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, got involved and it all went to pot.
It seems Abdelaziz doesn’t want his client being used to promote a private business without some form of compensation, whereas the owner insists the doppelgänger was not only approved by Edgar ahead of an onsite autograph signing, but liked by the current featherweight contender upon return visits.
Have a look:
Here you go @FrankieEdgar that's your manager. Imagine an agent in the NFL or MLB or NBA doing this @AlessandroGelke @MIKERUSSELLMMA #aliact2mma #mmafa pic.twitter.com/v4vNV9YHUl
— Rivolis Restaurant (@rivolis) August 13, 2018
Abdelaziz is no stranger to controversy, having been removed from his position in the since-rebranded World Series of Fighting (WSOF) promotion for reportedly acting as both matchmaker and fighter manager.
He's also been known to brawl with fans when the situation calls for it.
Sounds like Rivolis is removing the cardboard Edgar and it may end up being auctioned off for charity. Now, you too, can own a piece of MMA history because this is exactly the kind of story that encapsulates our wonderful industry.