UFC 205: NJ Native Frankie Edgar Leads the Strongest Preliminary Card in UFC PPV History

Frankie Edgar (MMA Junkie)

In the days leading up to UFC 205, all we have heard is that this will be the biggest main card in UFC history. With names like McGregor, Woodley, Weidman,  Jędrzejczyk and Cerrone, I don’t disagree. Something to not overlook though is the prelims, both on Fox Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass. The fights before the PPV actually begins are all worth looking at. Leading the prelim card is New Jersey native and former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar.

Just like Chris Weidman, Edgar (20-5-1) was one of the prominent figures to represent the UFC/MMA in order for the sport to be legalized in New York. Consider his time in 2010/2011 as a campaign for a high honor. Now in the featherweight division, Edgar won his last five fights (three of those against B.J. Penn, Urijah Faber and Chad Mendes), before losing to Jose Aldo at UFC 200 for the interim UFC Featherweight Title. If he won, it could have possibly been him fighting McGregor in the main event. Instead he faces Jeremy Stephens, who has an impressive 25-12 record.

While some may see this as a downgrade (like Conor, who claimed that Edgar wasn’t good enough to headline the show), Edgar see’s this as an opportunity. The pre-show is something that shows fans what they are missing out on with him not in the main event. Add an opponent like Stephens and it should be one heck of a fight.

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhD_pEWPjeQ

Besides Edgar, the prelims will include Liz Carmouche (10-5) against Jersey native Katlyn “Blonde Fighter” Chookagian (8-0), who has quite a following. Chookagian was recently interviewed by Double G’s own Kristine Haugsjaa.

Other fights include Jim Miller 27-8 (1) against Thiago Alves (21-10), and the much talked about Khabib Nurmagomedov (23-0) facing Michael Johnson (17-10). All of these fights could result in future title opportunities for the winners. Tim Kennedy was supposed to face Rashad Evans at the event, but the latter was pulled after an undisclosed complication during his pre-fight medical exam. Both were disappointed when the news broke, as were many fans, but according to MMA Fighting, the match won’t be discarded completely. Evans (19-5-1) will face Kennedy (18-5) at UFC 206 in Toronto.

While we lost the opportunity to watch two highly-touted fighters go at it in NYC, it shouldn’t rain on the UFC’s parade. The rest of the preliminary card looks solid enough to survive. With Frankie Edgar leading the way, the entire card looks very promising. New York City is getting spoiled on Saturday, and I expect every single fans there to drink it all in.