Sounds like that drop to 135 pounds was coming a lot sooner than expected for ex-lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, who was penciled in for the UFC 244 pay-per-view (PPV) event this November at Madison Square Garden.
That’s according to longtime bantamweight Aljamain Sterling, recently ruled medically unfit to compete by New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) because of lingering wrist issues, which ultimately sent “Funk Master” into much-needed surgery.
“Recently I was offered a HUGE fight, so I was going to push the limits again, despite having less strength than my left hand (I’m right-handed) to fight the legend, Frankie ‘The Answer’ Edgar, at The Garden,” Sterling wrote on Instagram. “Unfortunately, NYSAC wouldn’t approve me in time to fight at home for Nov. 2nd. Although the wrist pain got significantly worse from fighting Pedro Munhoz, I was really disappointed, but recognized that maybe this was God’s plan for me.”
Sterling (18-3) has been on quite a tear over the past two years, winning four straight and six of his last seven. It’s not outrageous to suggest “Funk Master” was one or two big wins away from a title shot, which is probably why he jumped at the chance to fight “The Answer.”
As for Edgar (23-7-1), he may no longer be headed south for the winter now that Conor McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, has been fantasy matchmaking in the media. We’ll have to see how UFC officials respond as the 2019 fight cards continue to fill up.
Sterling is expected to return in early 2020.
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