UFC Atlantic City: Frankie Edgar returns to NJ after decade absence

ATLANTIC CITY - There have been nine Ultimate Fighting Championship cards in the Garden State over the last decade, and they’ve all had one thing in common: None of them have featured New Jersey’s most decorated mixed martial artist.

That streak ends Saturday in Atlantic City when Toms River native Frankie Edgar enters the Octagon at Boardwalk Hall on a nationally televised UFC Fight Night card.

"The Answer" takes on Cub Swanson in the semi-main event on a night that will end a slew of abnormally long droughts:

It’s the first UFC card on this side of the Hudson River since January 2016.

It’s the first UFC card in Atlantic City since 2014.

It’s the first UFC card at Boardwalk Hall since 2005.

And it’s the first UFC card in New Jersey to feature Edgar since UFC 78 in November 2007.

"If it's not special, I'm doing something wrong," Edgar quipped Wednesday.

The Jersey Shore fighter was victorious in that contest 11 years ago, earning the unanimous decision over Spencer Fisher in the promotion’s debut at the then-recently opened Prudential Center in Newark. Within three years, he would capture the lightweight championship, but the UFC 78 win was only his third fight in the UFC.

"I remember walking out to the crowd not knowing who I was and that was my home state," Edgar laughed. "Now it's a little different."

Indeed, fans crowded the guard rails at the open workouts at Boardwalk Hall on Wednesday, looking for a selfie with the home state warrior. They watched as he and his son Santino ran through calisthenics and even exchanged some trademark Edgar family takedowns. To see Edgar explain why fighting at Boardwalk Hall means crossing an item off his bucket list, watch the video at the top of the page.

It was a loose atmosphere that never outwardly hinted that the veteran pugilist is coming off the first knockout loss of his 29-fight professional career.

Edgar (22-6-1) was stopped by unbeaten rising featherweight Brian Ortega at UFC 222 on March 3 in Las Vegas, getting clipped by a vicious elbow and dropped by a stunning uppercut. Saturday’s fight in Atlantic City will be just seven weeks later, leading some to question if the turnaround is too quick.

Yves Edwards, former UFC fighter and current FOX Sports analyst, is among those wondering if this fight is too soon for Edgar.

"I'm just hoping he didn't bounce back in there too soon, just to get that taste out of his mouth," said Edwards, who will join Megan Olivi and Jimmy Smith in the FOX Sports studio for the pre- and post-fight shows on FS1 and the FOX Sports GO app. The prefight show begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, with preliminary fights going live at 8 p.m. and the main card beginning at 10 p.m.

"Getting knocked out is one of the worst feelings in the world — I've been there — but Frankie Edgar is the pound-for-pound toughest guy I've seen inside the Octagon, bar none," Edwards said. "So with a guy that tough, let's see how he bounces back."

The fight Saturday is also a rematch of a November 2014 bout, which was won handily by Edgar. He submitted Swanson via neck crank with just seconds remaining in the fifth round.

Swanson (25-8) said Wednesday that he often refers back to that bout when discussing gameplans with his coaches, feeling he did not make the proper adjustments as Edgar built momentum throughout the fight.

"It's a lesson I learned from my last fight with Frankie," Swanson said. "If it's not the way I want it to be, make those adjustments instead of getting frustrated."

Edwards says he believes Swanson may benefit from his first-hand experience with the takedowns Edgar has been honing since his wrestling days at Toms River East.

"Cub did well in the first round and his standup is his best opportunity," Edwards said. "So if Cub has really been focused on his wrestling and working on keeping guys like Frankie off of him, he can give Frankie some problems.

"But as we saw in the first fight, once Frankie got to the top position with his takedowns, he was completely dominant."

And Edgar is expecting to face an improved Swanson on Saturday. But that's a two-sided coin.

"I think I'm better than I was when we fought last time," Edgar said. "So if he figured that guy out, he's got to be ready for this guy."

Steve Feitl: sfeitl@gannettnj.com; Twitter: @SteveFeitl