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Turns out, Frankie Edgar wasn't all the impressed with Chad Mendes' performance against Conor McGregor at UFC 189 in July.
With featherweight champion Jose Aldo withdrawing due to an injured rib, Mendes stepped in on 18 days notice. Although Mendes dominated the Irishman for the better part of two rounds, McGregor managed to score the TKO win late in the second.
Mendes lost out on the interim UFC featherweight crown, but pocketed a cool $500,000 for his trouble.
Last week, Edgar stopped by the Anik and Florian podcast to weigh-in on Mendes, who he'll face Dec. 11 at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale.
"You know, I think he was looking for a way out," Edgar told the UFC commentators. "I know it's tough coming off two weeks notice and supposedly he broke his foot and whatnot but you've got to go into every fight trying to win, man. You can't be fighting for a paycheck. If you're fighting for a paycheck, I'm the wrong guy to be standing across the cage from."
Well, Mendes obviously didn't appreciate that take.
"I think that's super disrespectful," said Mendes. "There's no way I'm ever going into any fight looking for a paycheck, looking for a way out. I'm going in there to win every single time. There's no way I'm ever taking a dive. There's no amount of money in this world that could pay me off in a fight. I'm a very competitive person. I've been competing since I was five years old.
"This is my life. This is what I live for. I've built everything around that. I'm not going to go in there looking to find an easy way out. There's only one way to find that out, Frankie. We're going to find out Dec. 11. I definitely don't think this is going to be an easy fight for you."
Asked if he regrets his decision to fight McGregor on short notice, Mendes didn't hesitate.
"You get that opportunity, you don't turn it down," said Mendes. "Obviously it sucks taking it on short notice and sucks losing. Money aside, that's a fight I'm going to take 100 percent of the time. Who knows? I could go out and knock the dude out on the first punch and I'm the interim title holder."
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Monday Morning Analyst. Luke Thomas breaks down the techniques from UFC Fight Night: Dublin.
Not good. Bellator 144 does organization's lowest TV ratings of the year.
Spirit of champions. Adriano Moraes vs. Kairat Akhmetov title fight co-headlines ONE Championship's return to China.
Watch The MMA Hour with Alexander Gustafsson, Ben Rothwell, Dustin Poirier, Patrick Cummins, Aisling Daly, Malki Kawa and Peter Carroll.
MEDIA STEW
Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Ronda Rousey finish fights.
Chris Weidman talks finishing Luke Rockhold, fighting Jon Jones.
McGregor happy to be training at 100 percent.
Highlights from around the world.
Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit talk real-life Hunger Games.
TTTHS.
Long watches.
...
Guillotine Mastery Seminar w/ Rener Gracie
TWEETS
Congrats.
Congrats on another huge Accomplishment @RondaRousey pic.twitter.com/EpxlNhtSqb
— Dana White (@danawhite) October 26, 2015
Truly and honor to be the first Mma fighter on the cover of ringtv https://t.co/oYeRoUmLFJ
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) October 27, 2015
Beef.
Love this. Just wanted to make sure some more people see this and remember this on December 12th. https://t.co/Wp2I7DFPvs
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) October 26, 2015
You don't want this dude. I'm trying to help you out. https://t.co/IYHIM5i8ft
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) October 26, 2015
@DustinPoirier @JamesViau why not.. What makes u think that..? Have I ever turned down a fight in the UFC..
— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) October 26, 2015
I saved your career https://t.co/obVVEMsMzk
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) October 26, 2015
@norman_parke @CullenAdkins11 I would be the first one to do it
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) October 26, 2015
Hard to answer questions honestly when you have so much to hide! https://t.co/UFNvpiJJHe
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) October 26, 2015
Must be great to be a keyboard champion pic.twitter.com/N3xMw17dnv
— Neil 2 Tap Seery (@NeilSeeryMMA) October 26, 2015
Get well soon.
Broke my thumb in the first round of my fight this Saturday. I learned a lot about myself there are... https://t.co/eyQebF3XjZ
— Michael (@TeamRocBiggie) October 26, 2015
Expensive.
Expenses for MMA fighters - #TeamFuryBlog Read----> https://t.co/7khpAJb81O @DeeZeeMfg | @JuryJJ pic.twitter.com/LAnqlfp6ee
— Myles Jury (@FuryJury) October 26, 2015
Promoted.
A graduação significa, além do aprendizado, toda uma renúncia em busca de um objetivo, significa... https://t.co/LY8zKVfaLq
— Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) October 27, 2015
Coach em up.
Had a fantastic time teaching at @SBG_Ireland today. A great place and excellent martial artists. Thank you @John_Kavanagh for having me.
— Ryan Hall (@ryanhallbjj) October 26, 2015
Fun.
@jonnybones #fanartwork https://t.co/Yo5gODvhnC pic.twitter.com/ytucwJyEQ9
— JacksonWinkMMA (@JacksonWinkMMA) October 26, 2015
Pretty good.
Hey the punk wrote you little ditty @CMPunk pic.twitter.com/lIymIjcioJ
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) October 26, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Oct. 26 2015)
Adriano Moraes vs. Kairat Akhmetov at ONE Championship 35
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