Frankie Edgar to face Jimmie Rivera at BKFC 82 in Newark on Oct 4

Frankie Edgar is returning to competitive combat sports, stepping out of retirement to face Jimmie Rivera in a bare-knuckle boxing bout at BKFC 82 on October 4 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The matchup, set for a card headlined by Mike Perry versus Jeremy Stephens, hinges on approval from the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board and marks Edgar’s first combat bout since a first-round knockout at UFC 281 in November 2022. Edgar, 43, walked away from mixed martial arts after a three-fight losing streak, his last win having come in August 2020 against Pedro Munhoz.

Rivera, 36, brings a BKFC pedigree to the fight, having transitioned from the UFC in 2021 and maintaining an active presence in the bare-knuckle format. He has competed multiple times under BKFC and most recently challenged for the featherweight title, losing on the scorecards in his last appearance. The Newark card will therefore feature a veteran in Rivera matched against a former UFC icon whose age and recent results have drawn scrutiny from observers who question the decision to compete in bare-knuckle at this stage of his career.

EDGAR’S legacy in the UFC is secure. A former lightweight...