Prediction 

Counting out Edgar has been a historically futile move given his heart and ability to remain at an elite level so late into his career.

Even his five-round featherweight title loss to Max Holloway in 2019 saw Edgar as game and competitive as any other top contender. 

But for a fighter with a notoriously great chin who had been floored often but never stopped, Free UFC on ESPN 15

seeing Edgar endure two knockout defeats in his last four bouts does raise some level of concern.

As does the fact that moving down in weight so late in his career — during a quarantine, no less –

leaves some uncertainty as to how fresh he will look inside the cage.

Free UFC on ESPN 15 22 08 2020 Live Stream

If Munhoz had a clear deficiency, it might be easier to find a clear path to victory for Edgar. But he doesn’t.

He’s hungry, fully able to handle himself on the ground and more than willing to stand ,

and exchange should the fight turn into a war. 

Although Edgar’s size could be a factor for him offensively for the first time in ,

his career now that he’s fighting against smaller opponents, Free UFC on ESPN 15

he will need to be one half step ahead of Munhoz throughout in terms of his footwork and boxing —

along with well-timed take downs — in order to make a run at a decision.

That’s where the whole moving down in weight could become problematic should it rob from his gas tank. 

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Edgar (23-8-1), despite his diminutive size at 5-foot-6, is a former lightweight champion ,

used to fighting at a weight considered too big for him.

A mid-career move down to 145 pounds brought great success .

despite three unsuccessful runs at the UFC featherweight title. 

On Saturday, Edgar will make his debut at 135 pounds , Free UFC on ESPN 15

and in a five-round main event bout against the dangerous Pedro Munhoz,

 

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(18-4, 1 NC) that, as crazy as it sounds, could have legitimate title implications for “The Answer”

inside the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas (8:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+). 

“I know a lot of people are questioning where I am at in my career,” Edgar said.

“I’m a little bit older and coming down in a weight class so people are questioning my abilities here.

That’s why I want to go out there and more so to prove to myself than anyone else ,

that I’m still a top dog in whatever weight class I fight in.” Free UFC on ESPN 15

 

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Main card (ESPN, ESPN+ at 8:30 p.m. ET)

 

Pedro Munhoz vs. Frankie Edgar

Ovince Saint Preux vs. Alonzo Menifield

Marcin Prachnio vs. Mike Rodriguez

Mariya Agapova vs. Shana Dobson

Daniel Rodriguez vs. Dwight Grant

 

Preliminary Card (ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET)

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Amanda Lemos vs. Mizuki Inoue

Austin Hubbard vs. Joe Solecki

Ike Villanueva vs. Jordan Wright

Carlton Minus vs. Matthew Semelsberger

Timur Valiev vs. Trevin Jones

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If you don’t believe Edgar could earn a title shot with a win against the No. 5-ranked bantamweight,

you haven’t been watching closely enough to recent UFC matchmaking decisions.

Despite the 135-pound division being as deep and dangerous as ever ,

at the moment in the aftermath of Henry Cejudo’s abrupt retirement,

Edgar represents the perfect B-side challenger that UFC might want ,

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to use to help new champion Petr Yan grow in fame. 

Not only did former two-time champion Dominick Cruz get a title shot in ,

May against Cejudo that wasn’t necessarily deserved given ,

his track record of injuries and layoffs, former featherweight king Jose Aldo received,

the call to face Yan for the vacant title despite coming off two straight defeats. 

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Free UFC on ESPN 15 22 08 2020 Live Stream

“I just have to worry about winning my fight Saturday,” Edgar said.

“Winning has a way of taking care of things and if I can do that, anything’s possible.

What I have done in my career, I’m always knocking on the door ,

and I always have opportunities presented to me.

If [a title shot] does come up, of course I’ll jump at it.”

Odds makers have set Edgar as more than a 2-1 underdog, in large part due to age,

and the fact that he was knocked out in the first round of his last fight in December against Chan Sung Jung,

(also known as the “Korean Zombie”). But mostly because Munhoz is one,

of the most well-rounded and gritty fighters in the division. 

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Free UFC on ESPN 15 22 08 2020 Live Stream

The 33-year-old native of Brazil gave current top contender Aljamain Sterling ,

all he could handle in a decision loss in June 2019.

But before that, Munhoz had run off three straight impressive wins including ,

a clean knockout of former champion Cody Garbrandt.

Munhoz was scheduled to face Edgar earlier this summer in Abu Dhabi ,

but was forced to withdraw after contracting COVID-19, Free UFC on ESPN 15

and remains grateful he was able to stay in line to reschedule,

such an important fight toward his title hopes. 

“There are crazy things happening all over the world right now ,

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so I feel very thankful to be fighting during the pandemic against another former champ,

” Munhoz said. “But it all depends how we see things. In that moment after contracting the corona virus],

I just tried to be grateful so nothing worse would happen to me and the family.

We all tested positive for COVID but we are lucky and very grateful.

I have a small daughter in the house and my wife and I felt pretty sick ,

but it was something that we worked through and are here today.  Free UFC on ESPN 15

“[Edgar] is going to be faster, stronger and skills wise, he is going to be sharper.

I want to make a big statement and I want to be next for a title shot.” 

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If there’s any concern about Edgar making weight, the veteran says ,

the feeling during fight week has been no different than his recent cuts to 145 pounds.

Edgar started his cut earlier this time and relied on the UFC Performance Institute for his nutrition plan. 

Regardless of his age, Edgar takes seriously his reputation for always fighting ,

the toughest opponents available and feels he’s doing just that this weekend.

“[Munhoz] has heavy, heavy hands and he has a great chin,” Edgar said. Free UFC on ESPN 15

“He’s hard to take down and has a superb submission game ,

so he’s really well rounded and not an easy opponent. Being [that he’s ranked] ,

No. 5, this is the perfect guy I want to fight.”

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In the co-main event, Alonzo Meinifield is back and taking on a familiar face in Ovince Saint Preux. Minefield suffered ,

his first professional defeat his last time out, dropping a hard fought decision to Devin Clark.

The 205-pound tank is looking to get back on the winning side with another ,

TKO as eight of his nine professional wins have come via TKO.

Saint Preux, meanwhile, is back at 205 after a one-fight sojourn to ,

heavyweight against Ben Rothwell, where he lost via decision.

 

Fight card, odds

• Pedro Munhoz -270 vs. Frankie Edgar +220, bantamweights
• Alonzo Menifield -130 vs. Ovince Saint Preux +110, light heavyweights
• Mike Rodríguez -230 vs. Marcin Prachnio +190, light heavyweights
• Mariya Agapova -1200 vs. Shana Dobson +750, women’s flyweights
• Daniel Rodriguez vs. Dwight Grant, welterweights
• Mizuki Inoue -140 vs. Amanda Lemos +120, women’s strawweights
• Austin Hubbard -140 vs. Joe Solecki +120, lightweights 
• Isaac Villanueva -115 vs. Jorge Gonzalez -105, heavyweights Free UFC on ESPN 15
• Carlton Minus -120 vs. Matthew Semelsberger +100, welterweights
• Timur Valiev -550 vs. Mark Striegl +400, bantamweights

Free UFC on ESPN 15 22 08 2020 Live Stream

 

Frankie Edgar’s Last Stand

Fair warning, this is about to be a bit of a contrarian pick. 

Frankie Edgar is a fairly large underdog in the main event, and at first blush,

it makes a lot of sense. The Answer is 38 years old, Free UFC on ESPN 15

really has nothing left to prove and is making the move down to bantamweight for the first time in his career. 

Given his diminutive frame, this move was probably long overdue.

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The fact that he was the 155-pound champion once upon a time is a testament to his superior skills.

In addition to Edgar’s inexperience as a 135er, there’s his 1-3 record in his last four fights. 

However, it’s important to note that those three losses came at the hands of Brian Ortega,

Max Holloway and Chan Sung Jung. That’s a brutal stretch,

and one that would probably go 3-0 against Munhoz as well. 

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Free UFC on ESPN 15 22 08 2020 Live Stream

Munhoz is a strong pressure striker and one who is willing to stalk his prey for a while before unleashing his offense.

It’s an approach that works for him often but one that can be dangerous against a mobile fighter like Edgar. 

The Answer can be a frustrating opponent, as his frenetic movement and in-

and-out style makes it hard to beat him round over round. 

The closest analog to Edgar to fight Munhoz is John Dodson. Much like Edgar,

Dodson is an undersized fighter who relies on his quickness , Free UFC on ESPN 15

 

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and movement to exasperate opponents and build a lead on the scorecards. 

Munhoz lost to Dodson via split-decision in a bout with widely varying scores. 

The expectation is that Edgar is washed and this will be a nice bounce back win for Munhoz.

That may be true. We could see Edgar finished for just the third time in his career or submitted for the first. 

It’s also possible that we end the night on an upset as Edgar puts on one last classic performance and uses ,

his boxing and wrestling to control the pace of the fight en route to a decision.  Free UFC on ESPN 15

Prediction: Edgar via decision

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Alonzo Menifield’s Shot at Redemption

The co-main event is an odd example of matchmaking on the UFC’s part. Alonzo Minefield is ,

an exciting light heavyweight prospect who suffered his first professional loss last time out. 

Instead of teeing him up an easy rebounding fight, the organization is throwing,

him a compelling veteran in Ovince Saint Preux. OSP’s athleticism, Free UFC on ESPN 15

pure power and slick submission game make him a threat to finish a fight wherever it goes. 

Minefield possesses prodigious power. Seven of his nine career wins have come in the first round.

The others have been second-round knockouts in the first minute of the round.

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Devin Clark handled him by negating a hot start with volume of his own and just outworking his opponent. 

Menifield will now have the opportunity to show that he has learned from his mistake.

Saint Preux isn’t the same volume fighter that Clark was, but he does have a diverse skill-

set that will challenge Menifield if the fight gets out of the first round. 

However, that’s where things will get tough for Saint Preux. Free UFC on ESPN 15

He has shown a penchant for getting tagged early in fights. He usually rallies and comes back to win,

especially against some of the prospects he has seen, like Michal Oleksiejczuk or Tyson Pedro. 

He won’t be able to absorb those kinds of early strikes from Menifield, though. After picking up his first loss,

it wouldn’t be surprising to see him pick up the pieces and put together a strong performance against a fighter with suspect defense. 

Prediction: Menifield via first-round TKO

Free UFC on ESPN 15 22 08 2020 Live Stream

Mariya Agapova Goes for Another Performance of the Night Bonus

The women’s flyweight division could use an injection of new talent, and Mariya Agapova appears to be just that.

She has put together back-to-back Fight of the Night performances and could be well on her way to a third. 

The first time she received the honor was in her final fight with Invicta. Free UFC on ESPN 15

After missing out on a contract offer in Dana White’s Contender Series, the Kazakhstan-

native fought twice under that banner with two first-round finishes to show for it. 

Agapova certainly didn’t miss a beat in her UFC debut. She made it three,

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straight first-round finishes since her DWCS loss with a submission win over Hannah Cifers. 

Now she’ll turn her focus to Shana Dobson, who is 3-4 in her career with a first-round knockout loss in her last fight. 

This is quite simply a squash match that appears designed to continue the hype for Agapova. It’s smart booking by the UFC 

and an easy fight to predict. Her physical tools should overwhelm her opponent from the opening bell and end the fight early. 

 

Free UFC on ESPN 15 22 08 2020 Live Stream

 

 

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