\u2018The Answer\u2019 Edgar<\/a> retired at UFC 281 in 2022 after Chris Gutierrez knocked him out with a devastating knee in Madison Square Garden<\/a>. This followed a front kick KO to Chito Vera<\/a> and a flying knee KO to Cory Sandhagen<\/a>, all of which took place in the same year.<\/p>\n Three years after retiring, Edgar will be fighting again just days before his 44th birthday.<\/p>\n Edgar has signed with Bareknuckle Fighting Championship<\/a> (BKFC).<\/p>\n As first reported by Ariel Helwani, the 43-year-old Edgar will be making his bareknuckle boxing debut against former top-five UFC bantamweight Jimmie Rivera at BKFC 82, pending approval from the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board.<\/p>\n Headlined by a \u2018King of Violence\u2019 battle between fellow UFC veterans Mike Perry and Jeremy Stephens<\/a>, BKFC 82 goes down on Oct. 4, which is the same night as UFC 320<\/a>: Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2.<\/p>\n Edgar\u2019s BKFC debut takes place in Newark, New Jersey, his home state.<\/p>\n This will be Edgar\u2019s first fight outside of the UFC Octagon since 2006.<\/p>\n Breaking:<\/p>\n Frankie Edgar is coming out of retirement. <\/p>\n Edgar will make his BKFC debut on Oct. 4 at the Prudential Center in Newark versus Jimmie Rivera, per sources, pending New Jersey State Athletic Control Board approval. pic.twitter.com\/T1EUla5p5E<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) August 19, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n View Tweet<\/p>\n Fans express concern for Frankie Edgar after BKFC signing<\/p>\n Edgar turns 44 a couple of weeks after his next fight against Jimmie Rivera, who\u2019s about eight years younger.<\/p>\n The experienced Rivera is 2-2-1 in BKFC, with his only losses being decisions to Jeremy Stephens<\/a> and current featherweight champion Kai Stewart. Rivera was once 21-1 as a pro in MMA and nearly reached a title shot in the UFC\u2019s bantamweight division in 2018.<\/p>\n Fans don\u2019t like Edgar\u2019s odds months out from the fight and want the 43-year-old to stay retired.<\/p>\n \u201cI really hope Frankie is getting a massive bag because the KO\u2019s he took at the end of his UFC run make me think this is a terrible idea,\u201d Wade Plemmons wrote on X.<\/p>\n I really hope Frankie is getting a massive bag because the KO\u2019s he took at the end of his UFC run make me think this is a terrible idea<\/p>\n![\"Frankie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-107813209-scaled.jpg\")
Photo by Josh Hedges\/Zuffa LLC\/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesFrankie Edgar books BKFC debut same night as UFC 320<\/p>\n