Edgar has won four of five fights since moving up to featherweight and he is a former UFC Lightweight Champion.

“Frankie is a different creature with a different mindset”, his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, told Yahoo Sports.

ESK: Mendes thinks this is a great match-up for him, but I just don’t see it. Sure, his wrestling should allow him to nullify Edgar’s takedown game, but it’s not like the former lightweight champ has to put him on the canvas to get the victory.

Conor McGregor’s featherweight title showdown with champion Jose Aldo on Saturday night is the culmination of a three-day fight extravaganza this weekend.

Edgar – and fight fans – have been calling for a UFC featherweight title shot for more than a year.

In its 22-year history, the UFC has never crammed three major fight cards so closely together, never mind in the same city.

The embarrassment of riches that is the UFC 194 fight week only truly reveals itself when you consider Friday night’s main event between Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes.

All the results from the Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale will be posted below as each fight concludes. When a title is on the line, to everyone else it matters more but to me, every fight matters. “That’s what I’m hoping for, but anything can happen”, Edgar said.

PMN: If you defeat Chad, then you’re likely next in line for the victor of McGregor vs. Aldo.

“But, again nothing’s guaranteed”. I’m banking on those things happening, even though I could be completely wrong.

Namajunas is a lightning-fast finisher with some of the most creative submissions in the sport and if VanZant wants to prove that she’s a contender and not just the leader of the latest popularity contest, she needs to get a win on Thursday night.

So, by that measure, Frankie Edgar can be considered Mr. UFC.

Despite three straight wins after the Aldo defeat, he was passed over following Aldo’s last title defense against Mendes, making way for Conor McGregor.

McGregor has already said he’s planning for his next fight after Aldo to be for the UFC lightweight title, and White did not dispute that.

And so if he wins, he could wind up fighting the victor of next week’s lightweight title bout between Rafael dos Anjos and Donald Cerrone, or he could rematch with Aldo. Edgar also had a shot at Aldo, losing a unanimous decision in his featherweight debut in 2013. His Highness supports professional fighter Frankie Edgar.

Abdelaziz doesn’t believe a move to 155 would be a wise move for McGregor, but said Edgar’s interest is not in any particular opponent but in the championship itself.

That said, I’m going out on a limb and predicting a throwback Gonzaga knockout via head kick in the first with Erokhin playing the role of a younger Mirko Cro Cop. “There are a lot of very, very big guys there with very good skills”. I’ll be betting on both of them tonight, along with Tatsuya Kawajiri (because he’s the best).

“He’s taken on everybody, guys who are monsters, way bigger than him, and he’s never backed down. That’s where I’m headed right now”.