Earlier this week, featherweight champion Max Holloway withdrew from the UFC 222 main event due to injury. Since then, there have been a number of potential replacement fight options discussed. One name which has persistently come up in these conversations is that of former UFC Bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt.
Garbrandt hasn’t fought since dropping his bantamweight title to TJ Dillashaw last year. In the immediate wake of Holloway‘s withdrawal, there was talk of a rematch between Garbrandt and Dillashaw for the title. Unfortunately for Garbrandt, his enthusiasm for the contest wasn’t matched by his former Team Alpha Male teammate.
In a series of tweets, Dillashaw made it clear that he wanted to spend time with his new born child at home rather than training for a fight with someone who he doesn’t believe even deserves a rematch.
All of this still leaves Frankie Edgar without a partner for his UFC 222 date. Edgar was scheduled for a shot at the featherweight title against Holloway but is once again short on luck as this is the second time the fight has been booked without materialising.
Edgar has a reputation for being a game fighter, open to taking on anyone the UFC present to him and he reinforced that message with this tweet last night.
I'm down for anyone, any fight, any weight class. Let's save this fight card! @danawhite @seanshelby @Mickmaynard2
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) February 5, 2018
The most notable responce to this call to action came from none other than Cody Garbrandt.
https://twitter.com/Cody_Nolove/status/960673026193764352
Cody vs Frankie would certainly be an interesting match up. Garbrandt is known to have heavy hands in the 135lb division but would be facing the former 155lb champion in the durable veteran, Edgar. Assuming the fight takes place at 145lbs, it would be new territory for No Love who would be taking on the 145lb number 1 contender in Edgar.
None the less, No Love appears to be eager to prove to the UFC that he is the answer to their main event problem at UFC 222.