The McGregor, Aldo, and Edgar Triangle We All Dreaded

Conor McGregor is already back in the talking game after a huge defeat over Jose Aldo at UFC 194. With so many options on his plate Mcgregor is already sizing up Frankie Edgar as his next possible challenger by stating :

“I like Frankie, I always did. He fights with his heart. He had a good run in the lightweight division. Again, he wouldn’t take my shots. It would not be a good night for him. But I do respect him and I respect that win.”
Frankie Edgar defeated Chad Mendes as the TUF 22 finale with a 1st round TKO as well clearing the way to the featherweight title shot, barring and immediate rematch for former Jose Aldo. After the historic win by McGregor Edgar had this to say :

“I mean, last night I was told I was getting the winner,” he said. “Now I’m hearing a rumor Conor might go up, and then I heard in an interview that he might want to stick around and fight me, so I’m game.”

When questioned about the UFC taking the big money fight over him.

“Of course, of course — you’ve seen it happen before and now I think I’ve seen it slip out of my hands, and I’ve seen it slip out of others hands before too,” he said. “I’ve got to be ready for that, but I’m hoping for the best.”

And when asked to give his opinion of if the shortness of the fight could work in his favor to stop the immediate rematch, he had this to say :

“Yeah, I mean, I guess, but then again it could be that we didn’t get to see much and we want to see it again,” he said. “Again, it’s up to Conor. It’s up to Dana. We’ll see. I think if he’s thinking about going to 155, which is another rumor, he’s got one more fight left, and that’s me. I think I’m his worst match-up. I know it, and I think a lot of people know it. And I think he’s got to fight that fight before he makes that move.”
Mcgregor also beat Mendes in this calendar year at UFC 189 getting the TKO in the 2nd round. So the dismissal of Mendes out of the title picture almost completely can be a bit reasonable for both Edgar and Mcgregor as they both seeming dispactched of the formerly unstoppable Mendes. And with just Frankie Edgar left really McGregor has made his choice about where he goes next essentially sealing himself in the featherweight division with this statement :

“I’ll tell you one thing that ain’t happening,” he said. “If I leave the featherweight division, there’s no way in hell I’m vacating that belt. That’s not happening. There’ll be a belt on one shoulder, and a belt on the other shoulder.”

Some fans might have written off Jose Aldo so far, but for a reigning champion the promise of big dollars, big numbers, and a bigger attraction are near and dear to the heart of the UFC business model. The Jose Aldo rematch can be one that’s easy for the UFC to take as Aldo can never be counted out and always a fighter that will make a statement even he himself speaking of the ill fated UFC 194 fight to Combate :

“It still is too hard to digest. We trained hard, did everything right, and the result wasn’t positive. It takes a while for us to digest, but it’s part (of the sport). It’s a sport and we have to accept.”

“So, there wasn’t even a fight, right? Only 13 seconds. And I also remember when I came in, how I tried to punch. But, man, it’s hard to say know if it’s (his) success or (my) mistake. It’s a quick decision, and he was able to connect a good punch when I tried a combination.”

“We spoke (with Dana White) right after. But I think it’s too soon to talk,” he said. “Of course, I want a rematch, and I think I have this right. Not only me, but my career speaks for itself.

“It wasn’t this time, but we will come out victorious, for sure,” he added. “It’s a sport, we have to accept. Not only from wins you live your life. That makes us stronger. Way stronger. You can be sure that we will come back stronger, more champion than I was before.”
With a fighters love triangle of sorts, who do you fans see fighting Conor McGregor next as he’s currently the man to beat. And anyone actually believe he has the leverage and star power to get Croke Park?