Yves Edwards
Yves Edwards Making the Most of UFC Return.
In 2005, Yves Edwards was considered the uncrowned UFC lightweight champion before the organization temporarily did away with the division. At “UFC Fight Night 23: Fight for the Troops 2,” Edwards turned in a Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night performance over Cody McKenzie in his second bout since returning to the fight promotion.
McKenzie was game and had Edwards in some bad positions, but the 34-year old fighter never felt threatened during the fight.
“I didn’t feel threatened as far as being finished or whatnot,” Edwards told Tapout Radio.
“He was really lanky and long. When he was on my back he just seemed really, really long. There were a couple of other times in the fight also when it just seemed like this guy’s arms are longer than normal people. He seemed like Reed Richards or something like that. I just couldn’t get away. He was always hanging on, always there. When he got good position, it was really, really hard. It just seemed like I was trying to escape from a rope versus escape from somebody’s limbs.”
Edwards was expected to win, but expectations don’t always translate into victories.
“There’s a thing in football, great teams win the games they’re supposed to win. They beat teams they’re supposed to beat, you know. Just because most fans that have been around the sport, or most fighters that have been around the sport felt like I had an advantage going into the fight, it doesn’t dictate anything. Cody came out there tough as nails and came out to win, you know,” said Edwards.
“You’ve got to go out there with that same mentality and you have to put away the guys you’re supposed to put away. You’ve got to beat the guys you’re supposed to beat. He put on a great fight, but I was able to come out and win.”
The chance to face McKenzie, who became recognizable and popular from his stint on “The Ultimate Fighter 12,” was big for Edwards in terms of re-emerging as one of the top lightweights in the eyes of the fans.
“There are fans that have no idea who I am. They may have started watching the sport, two, three, or four years ago. They still have no idea who I am, and it’s a chance to make myself known to each and every one of them,” he said.
Edwards plans to ride the momentum of the win over McKenzie to the next step rung on the long ladder to the top of the UFC’s lightweight division.
“I want to keep rolling in that direction and I’m going to keep working towards it. I’ve got big dreams and big hopes, but mostly realistic. I know there are things I need to work and work on, and I’m going to keep working at it. Every opportunity that comes up I’m just going to knock them down and put them in my pocket. I’m going to take as much advantage of this as I can. This is a second run for me,” Edwards told Tapout Radio.
“I’m just going to keep plugging away and do whatever I can to get back to the top and every opportunity that comes up I’m going to take as much advantage of it as I can.”
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