UFC blog: Frankie Edgar sends message to Conor McGregor, Jose Aldo

By Case Keefer (contact)

Published Friday, Dec. 11, 2015 | 8:10 p.m.

Updated Friday, Dec. 11, 2015 | 10:35 p.m.

The winner of tomorrow night’s main event at UFC 194 will be hard-pressed to put on the most impressive featherweight performance of the weekend.

Frankie Edgar may have clinched the honor tonight. The former lightweight champion likely claimed a shot at the winner of Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor as long as they don’t rematch by starching Chad Mendes in the main event of “The Ultimate Fighter” 22 finale.

“If someone doesn’t show up tomorrow man,” Edgar said immediately after the victory while still in the octagon, “I’m ready.”

Aldo and McGregor probably feel more confident against each other than they would against Edgar considering what he did at the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan. Edgar floored Mendes with a combination, winning via TKO at 2:28 of the first round.

The fighter most well known for getting into drawn-out wars didn’t need much time at all against one of the top five 145-pounders in the world. The finish was the quickest in Edgar’s 8-year, 19-fight career in the UFC.

“I felt we were both throwing at the same time,” Edgar said. “I just sped mine up and happened to catch him.”

Mendes protested the stoppage, but he appeared momentarily out after the punch. It was the first non title-fight loss of his career, as Mendes’ only previous defeats came against McGregor and Aldo.

Edgar might not have been the only fighter to emerge as a top contender on Friday. Lightweight Tony Ferguson, “TUF” 13 champion, won his seventh straight to improve his UFC record to 10-1. Ferguson overcame a disastrous first round.

Edson Barboza outstruck Ferguson, who was also deducted a point for an illegal kick to a ground opponent. But Ferguson stayed poised and rocked Barboza early in the second round.

When the fight went to the ground, Ferguson locked in a d’arce choke that forced Barboza to tap out at 2:54 of the second round.

“I knew I had him,” Ferguson said. “Give me my title shot, and I’ll take it.”

The idea could work out time-wise as Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, who was in attendance Friday, fights Rafael dos Anjos for the championship next Saturday in Orlando.

Before Ferguson’s win, local Evan Dunham also moved up the lightweight ranks. Dunham defeated Joe Lauzon by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26) for his third straight victory.

Jiu-jitsu world champion Ryan Hall became the latest “TUF” winner by out-grappling McGregor teammate Artem Lobov for a unanimous-decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-26).

Stay tuned to lasvegassun.com for more coverage of the fights all weekend, and look below for the live blog from the "TUF" 22 finale including preliminary results at the bottom of the page.

The top two featherweights in the world fight tomorrow night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The next two meet up the street tonight at the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan.

Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor are too busy rehydrating and preparing for their title fight at UFC 194 after making weight to attend “The Ultimate Fighter” 22 finale, but they’re surely paying attention. The winner of the main event between Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes will likely emerge as the UFC 194 winner’s next opponent.

The headliner in the second of three straight nights of fight cards is every bit as competitive as the third. Edgar, the former lightweight champion, comes in as a slight favorite over Mendes, the three-time former featherweight top contender, in a matchup between No. 3 and No. 4 in the 145-pound division.

It’s time to find out who’s third, and who’s fourth. Mendes has never lost outside of a title fight, and Edgar has only one such non-championship defeat. They’ve both regularly engaged in fights that have wound up on year-end “best of” lists, giving the matchup even more anticipation.

It’s not the only fight with a high potential at the event. Two lightweight bouts between proven veterans will support Edgar vs. Mendes.

Former “TUF” winner Tony Ferguson has won six in a row coming into a fight with Brazilian striker Edson Barboza. Las Vegas local Evan Dunham scraps with Joe Lauzon, who holds the UFC record with 13 post-fight bonuses.

Before Edgar and Mendes take the octagon, “TUF” 22 fighters Artem Lobov and Ryan Hall square off for the reality-show crown. It’s a unique situation as both lost while on the show but get a second chance tonight.

Lobov lost in the elimination round but was saved by his teammate McGregor, who as a coach was granted the opportunity to bring back one fighter. Lobov went on to win his next three fights on the show.

He was supposed to fight Saul Rogers tonight, but Rogers ran into problems with his visa application to see the opportunity fall to Hall, whom he beat in the first round of the competition.

Stay tuned to lasvegassun.com for live cageside coverage of the final four fights at “The Ultimate Fighter” 22 finale, and check below for results for the rest of the card.

Tatsuya Kawajiri battered Jason Knight throughout their featherweight bout, taking a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) victory.

Julian Erosa slipped past Marcin Wrzosek by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) in a lightweight bout.

Gabriel Gonzaga beat Konstantin Erokhin by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-28) in a heavyweight bout.

Ryan LaFlare won two of three rounds against Mike Pierce on all three judges’ scorecards for a unanimous decision in a welterweight bout.

Geane Herrera knocked out Joby Sanchez at 4:28 of the second round in their flyweight bout.

Chris Gruetzemacher defeated Abner Lloveras by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in a lightweight bout.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.