Frankie Edgar finally made his bantamweight debut at UFC Vegas 7 on Saturday night. After misfires and a number of delays, Edgar threw down in the main event with one of the division’s top contenders in Pedro Munhoz.
It was the former lightweight champion’s third weight class. And would hopefully give insight into whether he had one more title run in him.
Munhoz took the center of the cage early and looked to chop up Edgar’s legs. Edgar walked though the early kicks to land his shots, but Munhoz hit home plenty of times himself as well. Munhoz spent most of the round looking for bigger shots and backing Frankie against the cage, but Edgar was not without his own moments.
Munhoz came out for the second round quick in order to take the center of the cage. While it was Munhoz initiating the exchanges, Edgar was not without his moments, landing plenty of right hands. Munhoz found a big moment in the round with a knee, but shortly thereafter was taken down by Edgar. That top game was not long lived though, and they wound up with more of the same on the feet. The momentum ending the second was definitely leaning towards Frankie.
Munhoz had different thoughts to start the third frame though, as his shots were landing early on in the third round. Frankie’s left hook began to land more and Munhoz began to recommit to the leg kick. After a few of those kicks, Edgar began to move gingerly on the lead leg and seemed really adverse to taking any more leg kicks. The round closed with a spinning kick from Edgar, but the momentum had definitely moved back to the center.
Frankie got the early takedown to kick off the fourth round, but again he spent very little time on top. Munhoz continued to stalk and land his jabs, but Edgar seemed to be landing more combos and the harder shots in this round. Munhoz, almost as a reaction to the combos of Edgar, began throwing heavy rights. Although a few of them got through for the Brazilian, Edgar seemed to land more often. With a round to go, it’s cliche to say, but it was still anyone’s fight.
These uppercuts from Frankie are INTENSE. #UFCVegas7 pic.twitter.com/EwvDubdBpQ
— UFC (@ufc) August 23, 2020
A failed takedown early from Edgar in the fifth seemed to help Munhoz build momentum. A right hand shortly after seemed to stun Edgar a bit, but he shook it off quickly. The gas tanks for both holding up incredibly into the fifth as Frankie got his jab going again. Munhoz closed the round landing a few of the right hands that had done him so well throughout the fight.
The decision will no doubt be debated, but there’s no taking anything away from Edgar, who will be drawing another tough opponent, no doubt, moving forward.
Official Result: Frankie Edgar def. Pedro Munhoz by Split Decision (48-47, 46-49, 48-47)
