Frankie Edgar Moves Down to Featherweight, Hopes to Make Debut by End of Year

http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/8/21/3259286/frankie-edgar-moves-down-to-featherweight-hopes-to-make-debut-by-end

Frankie Edgar is headed to the featherweight division.

After much discussion and speculation, the former UFC lightweight champion has decided to move down to 145 pounds and is hoping to make his debut by the end of the year. The news was first reported on Tuesday night's episode of UFC Tonight on FUEL TV.

Edgar (14-3-1) is coming off a controversial loss to Benson Henderson at UFC 150 earlier this month. The loss marked his second in a row to Henderson. Following his UFC 144 loss to "Bendo" in February, UFC president Dana White said he would like to see Edgar move down to 145 pounds, but Edgar was successful in convincing White to give him one more crack at the lightweight title.

Edgar said he'll fight any featherweight the UFC matches him up against first. White said at the UFC 150 post-fight press conference that Edgar would most likely have to win at least once as a featherweight in order to receive a title shot, so he's not expecting a title shot right off the bat. Jose Aldo, the UFC featherweight champion, defends his title next against Erik Koch at UFC 153 on Oct. 13.

Aldo recently told Tatame.com that he was looking forward to welcoming Edgar to the 145-pound division before sending him packing once again.

"He said he wants to drop to the featherweight so I’m hoping he does that to end this story," Aldo said. "He’s welcome here so that we shut him off and he goes to the lightweight or bantamweight classes."