Report | Frankie Edgar vs. Jeremy Stephens interim featherweight title fight possible for UFC 226

Yes, you read that headline correctly. In the wake of Max Holloway’s gut-wrenching removal from the UFC 226 co-main event, the UFC is reportedly considering tacking a last-minute interim featherweight title fight between Frankie Edgar and Jeremy Stephens onto the bill.

This news comes from John Morgan of MMAjunkie.

No official word available at this late hour, unfortunately, but I’ve spoken with multiple people who have told me that with Holloway-Ortega off, @FrankieEdgar vs. Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) is being considered for an interim title at #UFC226.

— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) July 5, 2018

“No official word available at this late hour, unfortunately, but I’ve spoken with multiple people who have told me that with Holloway-Ortega off, [Frankie Edgar] vs. Jeremy Stephens is being considered for an interim title at UFC 226,” Morgan said in a Tweet early on Thursday morning.

This is a rather strange possibility, as it was recently confirmed that Holloway’s planned opponent Brian Ortega will not be competing at UFC 226. If anyone was fighting for an interim title on the card, you’d think it would be him. He did, after all, knock Frankie Edgar out just a few months ago.

Whatever the case, Edgar and Stephens would enter this potential UFC 226 interim featherweight title fight having fought once before, at UFC 205, in November of 2016. On that night, Edgar escaped with a unanimous decision win, but not before being rocked by a Stephens kick midway through the fight.

At present, Stephens is booked for a UFC Calgary scrap with former champion Jose Aldo. Edgar, meanwhile, is not currently booked, having recently defeated Cub Swanson.

Stay tuned for updates on the bizarre possibility of a Jeremy Stephens vs. Frankie Edgar UFC 226 interim title fight as details emerge.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 7/5/2018.