BJ Penn Will Defend UFC Lightweight Title Against Frankie Edgar

The next UFC lightweight title bout has been confirmed. Ariel Helwani caught up with the UFC president:

It’s official: Frankie Edgar is the No. 1 UFC lightweight contender.
Dana White confirmed with MMA Fighting Tuesday that Edgar will receive the next 155-pound title shot against champion BJ Penn. There had been talk of Gray Maynard facing Penn next, but in a video interview shot Tuesday in New York City, White said he didn’t think Maynard was 100% ready to fight for the title just yet.
The UFC president added that the tentative plan was for the title fight to happen in Abu Dhabi in April, but that the UFC 112 event in the Middle East is still not officially confirmed.

I covered the different aspects of the top 5 UFC contenders earlier today at Bloody Elbow and had the following to say about Frankie Edgar as a challenger:

Frankie Edgar (#6) - Yes, Frankie lost to Maynard. But by the time the fight rolls around it will have been two years since that loss. Edgar’s boxing technique is much better than Maynard’s so it’s likely that he’d be able to have a bit of time standing where he wasn’t just serving as a punching bag. Unfortunately, Frankie just isn’t much of a finisher. If Penn doesn’t have to worry about your power then he is going to be able to do most anything he wants.

Edgar seems like a clear choice for the title shot at this point over a Gray Maynard who was hit far too much by Nate Diaz. Penn’s boxing technique and handspeed is among the best in the sport, so if Diaz could hit Gray at will it seems that Penn would demolish him. At least the speed that Edgar brings to the table may present a few different problems for the champ.