Because title shots can wait.
It seems the lobbying of Frankie Edgar and his team has paid off, as "The Answer" has finally been booked to face off against current No. 1 Featherweight contender, Cub Swanson, in the main event of UFC Fight Night 57, which takes place at Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 22, 2014.
The announcement was made earlier this evening on the latest edition of "UFC Tonight."
As an added incentive, the 145-pound scrap is expected to be a title eliminator bout, which means either Swanson or Edgar could face division champion, Jose Aldo, sometime next year. That, of course, is if Chad Mendes doesn't take care of business at UFC 179 on Oct. 25, 2014, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The idea of a Cub Swanson vs. Frankie Edgar was first broached after the former Lightweight champ, Edgar, dominated B.J. Penn for the third time at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 19 Finale earlier this year. While Swanson wasn't exactly opposed to the fight, he still had his heart set on waiting for his promised title shot.
Not anymore, as Swanson has decided to go ahead and get another fight in while Aldo and Mendes tango for the second time.
Team Edgar drew the ire of Swanson for what he labeled as "shady" business after Renzo Gracie and Ali Abdelaziz prematurely announced a fight between the two 145-pounders for UFC on FOX 13 in Dec. 2014. But, now that the fight has actually been signed, sealed and soon-to-be delivered, Swanson can prepare to punch "The Answer's" face for real.
And perhaps secure his title shot in the process.
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