The one goal Frankie Edgar has chased his entire career is to be champion.

It's a platform the fighting pride of Toms River, NJ, has captured, defended with blood and tenacity, and lost with the same expense. Nevertheless, there's nothing Edgar wants more than to capture a UFC crown again, and it looks like he'll have the opportunity to do so in his next fight.

A red-hot Max Holloway holds the 145-pound divisional strap, and while there is yet to be an official date, location, or venue set for this showdown, Edgar knows what is on deck. And he guarantees he'll be ready to put it all on the line against the Hawaiian featherweight king.

"I'm just waiting on a date from [the UFC] right now," Edgar told FloCombat. "Obviously, I'd love it to be November at Madison Square Garden, but as long as it happens I'm cool. We are good on our end, but I think [Holloway] is working some things out with the UFC. We are just waiting on a date and we'll get to it."


Photo Credit: © Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Since Edgar lost his lightweight title in 2012, his pursuit of a championship in his new division has been full of ups and downs -- the type of distractions that would have stalled out a lesser fighter. Title shots have been earned, skipped over, slipped through the cracks, and met with resistance, yet Edgar's hunger and drive to be the best have not faltered.

Becoming champion oftentimes comes down to who wants it more, and there's few as passionate as Edgar in the fight game.

"I think it's great, and I'm finally getting the shot I deserve," Edgar said. "I've been waiting for a long time to fight for the real featherweight title, and Max is definitely a tough opponent. He's been tearing through everyone but I love the matchup. I believe I match up well with him, and it's my time to finally get what I got coming to me.

"The rougher things are on the way up, the more joyous the day will be when you achieve it."

While the featherweight division has known dominance before in former king Jose Aldo, the newly minted undisputed ruler brings a reign of terror all his own. Holloway has dispatched 11 straight foes inside the Octagon, looking increasingly unstoppable in the process.

Nevertheless, there was a time several years back when Edgar unseated another seemingly invincible Hawaiian, BJ Penn, and history has a tendency to repeat itself. That said, Edgar knows Holloway is a new-school type of fighter with some old-school throwdown, and this fires him up for the matchup.


Photo Credit: © Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports

"Max brings it every time out and seems to be growing confidence with each fight. I like that," Edgar said. "He's a young kid, and I may be older, but I'm still coming into my own. My body feels better than ever and I'm 35, but I definitely don't feel that way. I feel like a young man in there.

"I'm something he really hasn't faced before," he added. "I mix it up and whether we are standing or on the ground I'm going to keep him guessing and bring the pressure. I know he likes to bring pressure as well, and that makes for an exciting fight. When you have two guys who don't move back, it's always exciting for the fans, and I believe it plays into exactly what I want in there."

Although Edgar is waiting for the phone call to get the official date and location for the championship scrap, it doesn't stop him from putting some hope into play. If he had it his way, things would play out under the roof of the historic New York venue. But he'll take whatever comes his way because a title is on the line, and that's the only thing that matters right now.

"I'd love for this fight to be at The Garden, but I'm not going to get too jacked up about it until it's all said and done," Edgar said. "I know they already have two title fights on that card, but I think they had three on the card the last time they were there. If they want a third one, I'd love to be there.

"It's good to have the division back and moving, and it'll keep moving once we get this fight done and set."

Sign Up For The FloCombat Newsletter

Don't miss breaking news, feature stories, event updates, and more. Sign up for the FloCombat mailing list today.