Las Vegas, NV — In a close, back-and-forth main event at UFC Vegas 7, Pedro Munhoz held his own against former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar.
Edgar was making his bantamweight debut in the fight. Munhoz (18-5, 1NC) was the fighter set to welcome him to the 135lb division.
Munhoz seemed to have the edge in power. At least early, Edgar held the speed advantage, before the leg kicks of Munhoz began to pile up. Then there was the wrestling side of things. When it came to takedowns, Edgar landed a few.
“He couldn’t do anything with the takedowns. I got up right away,” Munhoz said following the fight, reflecting on what turned out to be a split decision loss for the Brazilian.
“I was looking for the finish,” he would add, speaking to media outlets including Cageside Press backstage at the UFC Apex. At least once or twice, Munhoz believed he had his opponent hurt.
“Yes, a few times to be honest with you. Not taking anything from him, he’s a hell of a fighter. I have nothing but respect to him and his team,” Munhoz stated, adding “I really feel like a few times, he was hurt. And he’s pretty tough. So he hid that pretty good.”
Both men, repeatedly, landed their right hands. Both men were bloodied. Munhoz no doubt had the harder punches, but he didn’t land when it counted. At least not in the eyes of two judges.
Munoz isn’t sure where the loss will put him in the rankings. “I don’t know about that, this is not of my control. This is completely out of my control. It could put me back at #20, it could put him #1 and fighting for the title,” he observed.
But a rematch is something he’d be open to. “I’m always down to fight anyone. I never choose my opponent. I’m down to fight anyone, any time. So that would be good, if we get a rematch,” Munhoz said.
Watch the full UFC Vegas 7 post-fight press scrum with Pedro Munhoz above.
