Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar has been patiently – and sometimes impatiently – biding his time waiting for a second shot at the promotion’s featherweight belt.

Edgar (19-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC) lost to featherweight king Jose Aldo (25-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) at UFC 156 in Feb. 2013. He’s gone on a four-fight winning streak since the loss and is now set to face Chad Mendes (17-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) at the TUF 22 Finale, a bout that could land the winner in a bout for the belt.

The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale, which concludes the 22nd season of the “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series, takes place Dec. 11 in Las Vegas at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan. The main card is expected to air on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

The featherweight title will next be defended by Aldo against Conor McGregor (18-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) at UFC 194 on Dec. 12. McGregor captured the interim featherweight title by defeating Mendes when Aldo was forced to pull out of their UFC 189 bout due to a rib injury.

Mendes got the short-notice call over Edgar for that bout, but it’ll be different if Aldo is forced out of the bout again.

“If someone gets hurt I’m the guy stepping in,” Edgar said in an interview posted on UFC.ca. “And that’s from (UFC President) Dana White. You can print that in bold letters!”

Edgar says that he knows that McGregor is the fight that will have the biggest positive effect on his bank account, but his focus is the title.

“I want that title,” Edgar said. “That, to me, is the most important thing. Conor may be the money fight, but when you win a title that stays with you forever. Money comes and goes. You’re a champ for the rest of your life. I did it at 155 and I want to do it at 145.”

For more on The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.