Former UFC lightweight champ and current bantamweight stalwart Frankie Edgar has confirmed that his appearance at UFC 281 will be his last in the Octagon. At 40 years old, Edgar has been eyeing retirement for a while, and discussed his choice in a recent interview with MMAFighting.
“It’s a lot of things I would think. Kind of the way my fights have been going as of late led to that as well. My body, I am getting older. I feel great. In camp, I’m such a strong minded person that I always have great camps. I always feel good but the body takes its toll throughout the years and I just want to move on and see what’s next.
Frankie Edgar Confirms UFC 281 Retirement
I know I can’t fight forever. I could definitely string it on a couple more years probably but I know I’ll never move on to what’s the next chapter in my life. I think now I’m being selfish when I’m still trying to chase this and I’ve got a family and kids that want to have goals of their own. They want me around and probably want me to be able to speak good and have my wits about me. I just know it’s probably the best time.”
Edgar has managed to avoid sustaining much serious damage despite facing elite opposition for much of his career in combat sports. With that in mind, he believes it’s time to hang up the gloves. “It’s definitely in the back of your mind.
You can’t help but hear talks of that in sports and especially in our sport but across all sports. It’s not like I notice anything like oh man, I’m forgetful or I’m slurring my words but I don’t know if that’s how it works. Does it happen one day, you wake up and you’re messed up or does it happen gradually? Who knows.
I’m going to be 41 next week and I feel like I’m somewhat coherent, maybe not the most, but I guess good enough for now so maybe leave well enough alone.”
Edgar doesn’t want to be one of the fighters overstaying their welcome, with fans calling for retirement. “I don’t want to be that guy.
It’s not fair to put my family through that either. My pride doesn’t want to deal with that either. I feel like I can still hang with the best in the world.
I think in the past, I would have won those fights and now I’m not winning those fights. I don’t know if that’s the way time goes or guys are getting better or that’s the breaks of this game. Now’s the time. We get one more in New York, right in my backyard, a lot of history there. I think it’s a good sendoff.”
What’s next for Frankie Edgar? Let us know in the comments.
