Frankie Edgar Set to Join Elite Ranks in Modern Wing of UFC Hall of Fame

In a prestigious announcement today, UFC revealed that former lightweight champion Frankie "The Answer" Edgar is set to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame's 'Modern Wing' as part of the Class of 2024. The highly anticipated 2024 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled for this summer in Las Vegas and will be accessible to fans worldwide through live streaming on UFC FIGHT PASS.

UFC CEO Dana White expressed admiration for Frankie Edgar, labelling him as one of the greatest athletes in UFC history. Acknowledging Edgar's remarkable career that spanned over 15 years and saw him consistently compete against top athletes across multiple weight classes, White commended Edgar's legendary status. The induction is set to take place as part of the International Fight Week festivities this summer.

Frankie Edgar will join the esteemed Modern Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame, alongside iconic figures such as Forrest Griffin, BJ Penn, Urijah Faber, Ronda Rousey, Michael Bisping, Rashad Evans, Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, Jose Aldo, and Donald Cerrone. The 'Modern Era' category includes athletes who turned pro on or after November 17, 2000, are a minimum age of 35, or have been retired for one year or more.

Throughout his illustrious career, Edgar participated in 35 fights over 17 years, amassing a record of 23-11-1. Notable victories include wins over UFC Hall of Famers BJ Penn, Urijah Faber, and Cub Swanson. Edgar also secured wins against former WEC lightweight champion Hermes Franca and former UFC lightweight champions Sean Sherk, Charles Oliveira, and Yair Rodriguez (interim).

Frankie Edgar made his professional MMA debut in 2005, boasting six consecutive victories across four MMA promotions before joining the UFC. His debut inside the Octagon on February 3, 2007, marked a successful start, as he defeated Tyson Griffin via unanimous decision and earned his first "Fight of the Night" bonus.

One of the defining moments of Edgar's career occurred at UFC 112: INVINCIBLE on April 10, 2010, where he faced then-UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn. Despite entering the fight as a significant underdog, Edgar pulled off a stunning upset, securing a unanimous decision victory and making history with the largest championship underdog victory in UFC at that time.

Edgar went on to defend his title against Penn in a rematch at UFC 118: EDGAR vs. PENN 2, where he again emerged victorious via unanimous decision. The New Jersey native then faced Gray Maynard at UFC 125: RESOLUTION, resulting in a split draw and marking one of the greatest MMA fights in history. Their trilogy concluded at UFC 136: EDGAR vs. MAYNARD 3, with Edgar claiming victory via KO in the fourth round.

In subsequent years, Edgar moved between divisions, engaging in memorable bouts at bantamweight, lightweight, and featherweight. His UFC journey culminated in a storied career that includes several accolades such as being second in total Octagon fight time, tied for second-most Fight of the Night bonuses, third-most significant strikes landed, sixth in takedowns landed, and sixth in championship fight time in UFC history.

Beyond the Octagon, Frankie Edgar received numerous accolades, including Fight of the Year honors from Fighters Only World MMA Awards in 2011 and ESPN's Fight of the Year in 2012. Hailing from Toms River, New Jersey, Edgar's wrestling journey began at Toms River High School East and continued at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. He resides in Toms River with his wife, Renee, and their three children.

Frankie Edgar's impending induction into the UFC Hall of Fame is a testament to his extraordinary contributions to the sport, solidifying his legacy as one of the modern era's most distinguished fighters.

LEAVE A COMMENT

Please login to leave a comment

0 Comments