Edgar 'heartbroken' after losing retirement fight to Gutierrez

KARACHI: Frankie Edgar's retirement fight didn't go as planned at UFC 281 on Saturday as he was brutally defeated by Chris Gutierrez in the first round by a knee strike.

The former lightweight champion said he is heartbroken because of the KO loss to Gutierrez but stated that he is grateful for what he accomplished in his career.

"Obviously, (I’m) heartbroken. That’s not the way I wanted it to go, but that’s the way it goes. I had a great week, an awesome week out there. It was incredible, the love I got from everybody. The UFC gave me love, the little video that they did. From my peers, my peers are the most important. … I was zooming in the back. I felt like I was on in the back. I go out there and boom. Obviously, you saw it. Everybody saw it," Edgar said on ‘The Champ and the Tramp’ podcast.

"How can I complain, to be honest? People were cheering my name the whole time before, during, and after. I worked hard to get where I got, like very hard. I sacrificed a lot in my life. I put my all into my athletic career since Day 1, but who am I to complain? There are people out there who work hard and they just make it by. I know both sides of that. I’m just trying to be grateful for what I accomplished, for the ride I had."

It was a risky move for the 41-year-old Edgar to return to the Octagon because he had lost by KO in his previous two fights against Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Vera. It was especially perilous because he was facing Gutierrez, who was on the rise after seven straight victories.

Edgar had nothing left to prove after becoming the lightweight champion and making three successful title defences during a stellar career that ended with an overall record of 24-11-1, so he walked out on his shield nonetheless.

Comments

Submit