Frankie Edgar releases statement on UFC Busan loss: ‘Win like a man and lose like one too’

True to form, former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar was all class after his loss to Chan Sung Jung at UFC Busan.

Edgar praised Jung, thanked his fans and joked about his longer-than-usual hair in a statement following his first-round loss early Saturday in South Korea.

The featherweight fight headlined UFC Busan at Sajik Arena in a homecoming for South Korea native Jung, who hurt Edgar early and often before finishing the job at the 3:18 mark of the opening round.

Edgar took the bout on short notice, filling a gap left by an injury to onetime title challenger Brian Ortega. In doing so, he endangered an already booked fight against top contender Corey Sandhagen in January at UFC Raleigh. A win over Jung and Sandhagen would have been an incredible turnaround after a decision loss to Max Holloway in his third attempt to recapture UFC gold.

A knockout loss means Edgar is medically suspended and all but certain to be ruled out of the fight with Sandhagen, who as recently as this past week was told he’d be fighting Edgar, according to MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin.

Jung has now won two straight after an improbably knockout loss to Yair Rodriguez 13 months ago. He called for a title shot after beating Edgar.

“Nothing will change,” Jung wrote afterward (via Google Translate). “It’s not over yet, so I’ll spare no effort to learn and learn the same. Today was the best in Busan. Thank you everyone.”