Even if 50-45, all 5 rounds were by slim margins and a couple were by the slimmest margins possible. No one has made Max work all 25 min and kept on his toes all night. Frankie was never able to close the distance himself for deep enough td attempts and Max is perhaps the smartest, most rounded fighter in the game but at the same time, he was just too goddam big for Frankie. Size was absolutely a huge factor as much as Max still impressed me.
Could Frankie have just gone to 135 years ago?
At any rate, I think this presents a very interesting matchup in Volkanovski now being the younger, stronger, faster guy with other similar stylistic elements but hats off to Max too once again showing why is closing in on Aldo as the FW GOAT (though he aint there yet!!).
Frankie still gives Max the toughest fight of his FW career and of his amazing FW run. For that, at this age and as such a smaller fighter, Frankie is a legend.
Frankie Edgar is my favourite fighter of all times. Always the smaller guy, a true warrior.
I think anik said 7 hours in the octagon. That is just insane. Guess he is a little old now and I hope it's not too late but I would love to see him fight at 135.
And yes Max is hard to beat, he has this snake charmer style where he leans his head forward then makes you miss. Also doesn't do much until later in the round when he has already lured you into playing his game.
(1) The most frustrated I’ve ever been with Frankie was the second Aldo fight. He had and Mark Henry had one clear path to victory: low kicks off Aldo’s pivots. Every time he did it, it worked and it made Aldo pay for his best weapon against Frankie. So, it was very nice to see Frankie and Henry have learned that lesson and worked to incorporate leg kicks. It wasn’t enough. But it was good.
(2) Frankie did better against Max than any other FW since Max began his streak. By far better. That’s not for nothing.
(3) Frankie looked far healthier than he did in the Cub fight.
(4) His takedown setups were good and Max stuffed them completely. That makes me wonder whether any version of Frankie beats Max. I’m now doubtful.
(1) The most frustrated I’ve ever been with Frankie was the second Aldo fight. He had and Mark Henry had one clear path to victory: low kicks off Aldo’s pivots. Every time he did it, it worked and it made Aldo pay for his best weapon against Frankie. So, it was very nice to see Frankie and Henry have learned that lesson and worked to incorporate leg kicks. It wasn’t enough. But it was good.
(2) Frankie did better against Max than any other FW since Max began his streak. By far better. That’s not for nothing.
(3) Frankie looked far healthier than he did in the Cub fight.
(4) His takedown setups were good and Max stuffed them completely. That makes me wonder whether any version of Frankie beats Max. I’m now doubtful.
Agreed and im not sure if that would have been enough to beat Aldo in the rematch but its puzzling why he stopped throwing the leg kicks, just as it was puzzling why he stopped vs Max too, it was the thing that worked most consistently against Max.
totally
Didn’t see the last Cub fight
Yes, he was just too small and Max was able to keep the range and Frankie was never able to penetrate far enough off his attempts. Would it made a difference when Frankie was in his physical prime? Maybe not…you may be right…
