Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (14-3-1 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC) is reportedly heading to 145 pounds.
According to a report issued tonight on Tuesday's new edition of FUEL TV's "UFC Tonight," Edgar has made the decision to move down to 145 pounds.
A debut date and opponent have yet to be established, but Edgar is reportedly hoping to fight again before the end of the year.
Edgar has long dealt with questions about a potential move to 145 pounds, but after a pair of wins over B.J. Penn and two dramatic fights with the massive Gray Maynard, "The Answer" made it clear he was happy fighting as a lightweight. But after Edgar dropped a pair of decisions to current champion Benson Henderson, UFC President Dana White made it clear he'd prefer to see Edgar at what would appear to be a more natural weight class.
"He's always proved that he can stay at 155," White said following Edgar's UFC 150 loss to Henderson. "There's never been a case where Frankie's not good enough to stay at 155, he's not tough enough to be at 155, he's not talented enough to be at 155 or that he's not even big enough to stay at 155. I just think at 145, he's a monster."
Now that he's apparently making the move, Edgar will have a chance to flourish in a new division. However, despite previous promises that Edgar could drop to 145 pounds for an immediate shot at the belt, White believes the division has since evolved and the former lightweight champ would need a win or two before getting a title fight.
"I think Frankie would have to fight somebody at 145 (before getting a shot at the title)," White said. "We've got all these backed up titles right now. I don't want that backed up, and if I know Frankie, he's going to want to get in there right away."
Source: Report: Frankie Edgar heading to featherweight