Frankie Edgar sets sights on UFC title shot after dominating Urijah Faber

Urijah Faber spent his entire 39-fight career without suffering a defeat in a fight that wasn’t for a championship.

That all changed on Saturday when Faber met former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar in the main event of UFC Fight Night 66 from the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

Edgar dominated “The California Kid” with swift combination punching and effective ground control en route to a 50-45 unanimous decision victory.

“I wanted to go out there and really make a statement,” Edgar said after the fight. “I went out there and won 5-0, but Urijah is tough as hell.

“He is the guy I looked up to when I first got in. He was the guy I really wanted to be. It was an honor to fight him. He’s a legend of the sport and us lightweight guys really owe it to this guy.”

It wasn’t the most authoritative display of raw power or overwhelming excitement, but it was a technical blueprint for future generations to examine. And for a match that would have been declared a “super fight” in year’s past, Edgar vs. Faber in 2015 was still a much anticipated showdown that many were clamoring to see.

Now that Edgar has put Faber in his rearview, a looming rematch against UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo awaits — assuming Aldo can get past challenger Conor McGregor at UFC 189 in July, of course.

Edgar lost a unanimous decision to Aldo at UFC 156 in 2013 and has since been on a warpath in an attempt to secure a rematch. After losing to the pound-for-pound great, Edgar has put together four consecutive wins over Charles Oliveira, B.J. Penn, Cub Swanson and now Faber.

Edgar is currently listed as the No. 2 contender behind Chad Mendes in the official UFC featherweight rankings. However, seeing as Mendes has already lost to Aldo twice — authoritatively, at that — and with Edgar’s win over Faber, he is sure to move up to the front of the line as the next 145-pound contender. That's especially true when you consider that he was promised a title shot by UFC brass after his win over Swanson last November.

“I want that title, man. I know Dana isn’t here … again,” Edgar said, referencing absent UFC president Dana White. “I don’t know if he’s ducking me because he owes me a title shot …”

Edgar trailed off before he could finish his declaration to White. Instead, he decided to say hello to his wife and kids back home in Toms River, N.J., and let them know he will be home soon.

If all goes according to plan, the next time Edgar returns home to his family from a business trip, UFC gold will be his official carry-on.