The combination of Ben Henderson’s UFC Lightweight Championship victory over Frankie Edgar and Anthony Pettis’ crushing win over Joe Lauzon seemed to set the wheels in motion for a rematch of one of MMA’s all-time classic bouts.
There was just one thing standing in the way: Frankie Edgar.
Having personally given BJ Penn an immediate rematch after defeating him for the title at UFC 112, Edgar felt he deserved a crack at Henderson, the man who bested him at UFC 144. Compounding the situation was the fact that many, including both Edgar and UFC President Dana White, felt he should have been ruled the decision winner in the Henderson fight.
If the head of the promotion feels the reigning champion should have left with the belt, it would arguably seem criminal not to give that former champion an immediate chance to win back the belt.
And so even though most reports indicated UFC was going straight to the Henderson-Pettis rematch, when push came to shove, the organization decided to give Edgar his rematch. White announced Tuesday that Henderson and Edgar will duel for a second time this summer.
Pettis’ next opponent was not revealed, but if the plan is not to sideline Pettis until he can get a crack at the Edgar-Henderson winner, the winner of the upcoming Nate Diaz-Jim Miller fight seems like a fitting choice.