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Possibilities endless for UFC champ Edgar

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By Dan Stupp 12:48 AM Monday, October 10, 2011

UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar can now move on, and in doing so, he creates some intriguing options for one of the UFC’s deepest divisions.

This past Saturday at UFC 136 in Houston, Edgar (14-1-1) avenged the only defeat and only draw of his career with a come-from-behind victory over Gray Maynard (10-1-1). In the pay-per-view headliner, he rebounded from the brink of defeat in the fight’s opening minutes to post a fourth-round TKO victory.

It was a remarkable performance for the undersized Edgar, who fought Maynard to a split draw back in January. It also now opens the door for some intriguing possibilities.

Although Melvin Guillard was knocked out of contention with an upset loss to Joe Lauzon on UFC 136’s main card, top contenders Ben Henderson and Clay Guida meet next month. Additionally, fellow title hopefuls Donald Cerrone and Dennis Siver clash later this month at UFC 137. Both winners would be title-ready.

And if that weren’t enough, UFC president Dana White said he expects to move Gilbert Melendez, the champion of the UFC’s sister promotion Strikeforce, to the UFC “ASAP.”

For a division that’s seen just two different fighters challenge for the title in the past 18 months, the possibilities are quite intriguing.

But White suggested another challenge could await Edgar — and it could come in a new weight class. In UFC 136’s co-headliner, featherweight champ Jose Aldo (20-1) notched a title defense with a decision win over Kenny Florian (15-6).

“Honestly, I’d like to see (Edgar) move to featherweight and fight Aldo,” White said. “All these other guys that Frankie fights are so much bigger than him.

“(But) I’m not going to make him do it. Who am I to say, ‘Yeah, you can’t stay here.’ It’s a tough argument to have with him.”

Silva-Sonnen II on Super Bowl weekend?

The other big UFC 136 storyline came from Chael Sonnen (26-11-1), who returned from a 14-month layoff (due to licensing and legal issues) to defeat surging contender Brian Stann (11-4).

Sonnen is brash and outspoken, but he’s also the only guy who’s presented pound-for-pound kingpin and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva any legit trouble. Immediately after his latest victory, Sonnen threw down the gauntlet.

“Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck,” said Sonnen, who dominated Silva before a late-round submission loss in 2010. “Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the history of the business. I’m calling you out Silva, but we’re upping the stakes.

“I beat you, (and) you leave the division. You beat me, and I will leave the UFC forever.”

Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, voted best media outlet in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 World MMA Awards. For the latest mixed-martial-arts news, go to mmajunkie.com.

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