Frankie Edgar ends retirement to join BKFC, will debut Oct. 4

Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar is coming out of retirement and plans to make his return in bare-knuckle fighting, his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, confirmed to ESPN's Brett Okamoto.

Edgar, a New Jersey native, has inked a contract with BKFC, and his debut in the promotion is scheduled for Oct. 4 against fellow UFC veteran Jimmie Rivera at Prudential Center in Newark. The bout is still pending approval from the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, sources told Uncrowned's Ariel Helwani, who was first to report the news.

"I'm super excited to get back in competing, especially here in Jersey," Edgar said.

Edgar's return gives BKFC 82 yet another notable fight. The event will be headlined by a clash between reigning King of Violence champion Mike Perry and former UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens.

UFC 320 is also scheduled to take place Oct. 4. However, BKFC's event will end before 10 p.m. ET that night to avoid a potential schedule conflict with the UFC's pay-per-view broadcast, BKFC officials told Helwani.

Edgar lost his retirement fight in the UFC in November 2022. The 43-year-old, who claimed the UFC's lightweight title in 2010 and retained it three times, was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame last year.