(This story appeared in today’s edition of USA TODAY .) It’s no small thing to build a new weight class in the UFC. But if what’s going on in the 145-pound division these days proves anything, it is that patience pays off. UFC 162 on Saturday featured two fights in the featherweight class — one between ex-lightweight champ Frankie Edgar (16-4-1 MMA, 10-4-1 UFC) and Charles Oliveira (16-4-1 MMA, UFC 4-4-1), and another between Cub Swanson (20-5 MMA, 5-1) against Germany’s Dennis Siver (21-9 MMA, 10-6 UFC). Both bouts won $50,000 “Fight of the Night” bonuses. UFC 163 in August will be headlined by another featherweight bout, this one for the title, as champion Jose Aldo (22-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) defends his belt against “The Korean Zombie,” Chan Sung Jung (13-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC). The debut event on Fox Sports 1 in Boston two weeks later is set for at least four featherweight bouts, including Ireland’s up-and-coming Conor McGregor (13-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC). It all adds up to what could be a breakout summer for the division that, as recently as three years ago, was deemed not quite good enough for the likes of the UFC
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USA TODAY: As UFC 162 taught us, UFC’s featherweight division packs a punch – MMA Junkie