Conor McGregor casts shadow on Jose Aldo-Frankie Edgar match

There could be a case made that the matchup between Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar is the most competitive fight on the stacked UFC 200 card at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.

Aldo and Edgar are two of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet, but they only received one question during the UFC 200 press conference Wednesday at the KA Theater inside the MGM Grand.

The two featherweight contenders were asked, of course, about Conor McGregor, the reigning champion who’s holding the division in limbo.

Edgar and Aldo are battling for the interim featherweight title while McGregor is scheduled for a welterweight rematch against Nate Diaz in the headline event at UFC 202 next month. McGregor hasn’t defended the belt since defeating Aldo at UFC 194 in December.

“I think this fight is for the next champion, Conor McGregor or not,” Aldo said. “This fight will define the next champ.”

Edgar didn’t want to say if McGregor should be stripped, but would like a decision on his status soon after the Diaz fight.

“Obviously, the decision isn’t up to me,” Edgar said. “I imagine after 202 they’re gonna have to decide if he doesn’t come back now then the title becomes vacant, otherwise he’s gotta defend it. It’s pretty simple.”

There should be a lot more buzz on the Edgar-Aldo rematch, but shaking McGregor’s shadow isn’t an easy task.

Contact Gilbert Manzano at gmanzano@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0492. Follow him on Twitter: @gmanzano24