Edgar: I will defeat Charles Oliviera

By Evan Stoumbelis – @MMAEvan

Frankie Edgar spoke to UFC.com recently on his upcoming fight with Charles Oliviera which will be the co-main event at UFC 162 Weidman vs. Silva.

“It’s a blessing in disguise, I feel like, coming back to a three-round fight. It’s going to make me get out of the gun early and make sure, first round, I’m in his face and I’m in the rhythm that I like to be in fourth and fifth.”

“My biggest concern is just making sure you show up and do everything you did throughout the training camp, all the preparation that you prepared to do, and put it to work and make it all work for you, I will defeat Charles Oliveira.”

Edgar is on a 3-fight losing streak, with 2 of the losses coming at the hands of current lightweight kingpin Benson ‘Smooth’ Henderson, after dropping both losses Edgar made the cut to featherweight and was given an immediate title fight against Jose Aldo, which he lost. With a loss to Oliviera Edgar would extend his losing streak to 4, and his record will drop to 15-5 (MMA).

However as we all know, Edgar is one of the toughest fighters in the UFC and if anyone can defeat Oliviera (16-3 MMA) it’s Edgar. Edgar is a great wrestler, and all 4 of Oliviera’s UFC wins have come by way of submission, which will make this fight extremely interesting if it ends up on the ground.

“He’s tough. He’s dangerous. Probably the tallest guy I may have ever fought. He’s got pretty good Muay Thai. He mixes it up well with kicks, knees, elbows. He’s got a slick submission game. He’s willing to go for broke to go for submissions,” said Edgar of Oliviera.

Tune in to UFC 162 Silva vs. Weidman Saturday night at 9P.M. on PPV live from Las Vegas.