Frankie Edgar has been getting questions about his retirement even before UFC 268. Edgar was initially offered to fight Sean O’Malley – but once O’Malley declined due to New York tax laws he agreed to fight Marlon Vera.
Unfortunately, Frankie Edgar lost to Marlon “Chito” Vera in UFC 268 via front kick knockout in the third round.
Wow! Marlon Vera with that front kick finish! ???
Shades of Silva/Belfort and Machida/Couture! ? #UFC268 pic.twitter.com/9gm2GHWr26
— Submission Radio (@SubmissionRadio) November 7, 2021
In the process a picture of Edgar’s face mushed up started going viral on the internet.
Marlon Vera flipped off Edgar during the fight – however he didn’t approve of the photo
“it’s a f*ked up picture. I didn’t post that picture. Everybody’s tagging me… even in the Stories, I don’t want to reply to that one. The guy has a family, the guy’s still having a life, and that was Saturday night. So for me, and how I see things, Saturday night was special, it will be in my heart forever, but I don’t live for that memory.” Vera said.
This loss made plenty of people call for Edgar’s retirement. One of them is middleweight contender Derek Brunson.
“Random thought. I do not want to see Frankie Edgar compete in MMA anymore. At best once more. He carried the sport for years, former UFC champ, competed at 3 different weight classes. He has nothing else to prove or achieve. A complete legend of the sport. #JustMyOpinion” Brunson said.
Random thought . I do not want to see Frankie Edgar compete in MMA anymore . At best once more . He carried the sport for years , former UFC champ, competed at 3 different weight classes. He has nothing else to prove or achieve . A complete legend of the sport ?? #JustMyOpinion
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) November 8, 2021
And as for his future in the UFC – Dana White was quoted saying:
“I love Frankie Edgar. He’s wrong,” White said during the UFC 268 post-fight presser. “It was a great stoppage. Even when Frankie was on his knees and was arguing with the ref and everything else, when he still stood up, he wasn’t right after. So it was a good stoppage.”
“Frankie was fighting a good fight until he got clipped,” White said. I don’t know. Frankie’s gotta go home, spend some time with his family, think about what he wants to do, and we’ll talk about it.”
Ezra Samuel is a passionate freelance writer with a particular love for covering MMA news. His interest in the sport dates back to his college days, and he has since established himself as a respected voice in the MMA community. Over the years, Ezra has contributed his writing to a variety of digital outlets, including the popular site calfkicker.