Frankie Edgar: It Doesn’t Feel Right Not Being the Champion

Everybody in the world has routines.

Whether it’s waking up in the morning and having a cup of coffee or always turning on programs in a certain order when starting a computer, life is built around routines.

From April 2010 to February 26 2012, Frankie Edgar‘s routine was going to bed at night and waking up in the morning as the UFC lightweight champion of the world. Edgar got used to having that title around his waist and being referred to as ‘champ’ or the best in the world.

But since losing the belt to Benson Henderson back in February, Edgar’s new routine hasn’t suited him nearly as well. It’s a taste that’s hard to swallow and one he hopes to rectify this weekend at UFC 150 in Denver.

“It definitely doesn’t feel right,” Edgar said about not being champion when speaking to MMAWeekly Radio. “Especially when people say ‘former UFC world champion’. You try not to put everything on world titles and what not, but being champ is nice.

“I think anybody that does anything, puts passion into what they do like myself, they want to be the best at it, and they want to be recognized as the best. Being a champion you get all the accolades that come along with it.”

The fight that cost Edgar the lightweight title was a razor close decision with some people including UFC President Dana White scoring in his favor instead of Benson Henderson. All that matters however are the three judges that scored the fight that night, and all of them gave the bout to Henderson, thus ending Edgar’s reign as champion.

If there is a positive to take away it’s that Edgar does get the chance to fix what went wrong in the first fight when he gets to do it all over again this weekend. Edgar has become a master at rematches because that’s all he’s done lately.

After defeating B.J. Penn to capture the belt he had to rematch the Hawaiian four months later. The same happened after a draw with Gray Maynard forced Edgar into yet another rematch.

The key element to look at is Edgar’s improvement in both rematches. After a close fight with Penn at UFC 112, Edgar dominated the legendary fighter winning in a one-sided affair in their second bout.

Edgar did the same in his rematch with Gray Maynard, finishing off the former Michigan State wrestler with strikes in the fourth round of their fight at UFC 136.

If rematches are becoming a habit, Edgar certainly likes his chances going into a second bout with Henderson. His coaches have become quite proficient at finding what went wrong the last time, fixing things and making the tweaks and changes necessary to come away with a victory the second time around.

“They’re the masterminds behind it. I think they see things in certain fights and make adjustments, and they seem to work,” Edgar said about his coaches. “I just want to do things a little bit better. I do things a little bit better this fight, I should come out the winner.”

Winning is all that matters to Edgar. Whether it’s a knockout, submission or five-round dominant shutout, the Toms River, New Jersey native just wants to walk out of the Pepsi Center in Denver with the gold belt back at home around his waist.

“When you’re the champ you’re held in a different light, and that’s what I want,” Edgar stated. “I definitely want to leave my mark on this sport and the best way to do it is by being a champion.”

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