Frankie Edgar says family was against BKFC signing
Frankie Edgar opens up about signing with BKFC and why he’s not coming back for money.
UFC Hall of Famer Frankie Edgar insists his motivations for ending combat sports retirement to compete for BKFC are pure.
Edgar, a former UFC lightweight champion, will fight for the first time since his final UFC bout in November 2022 when he takes on Jimmie Rivera at BKFC 82 on Oct. 4 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
After ending his career with six losses in eight fights, including three consecutive knockouts to close it out, Edgar seemed like he was content in retirement. Then BKFC came to his home state, and the 43-year-old said it was an opportunity he couldn’t resist.
“It was kind of a perfect storm,” Edgar told MMA Junkie Radio. “The timing, my body feels good, the money is good. I did say yes before the opponent, but I do think the opponent is good, too. This wasn’t on the horizon for me, so it just kind of worked out.”
Edgar said that although the offer to fight for BKFC was appealing to him, his inner circle certainly didn’t feel the same way. Edgar said he got much resistance from those around him, but ultimately he decided to follow his fighting spirit.
“My close family definitely was against it,” Edgar said. “For sure, my wife, my kids, my parents, but I talked them into it, I guess you could say. At least enough for me to get the OK. I don’t know if I got their blessing, but I got the OK.
“They think I don’t need it. I don’t need to do this. I’m not searching for pennies or anything under the couch. It’s not that I need it. They get who I am. My wife knew what she got into when she signed up for this a while back. She knows the kind of person I am, and I’m sure this is not too surprising for her.”
Edgar reiterated that he was financially secure after a decorated UFC career and is not desperate for dollars – however, he admits BFKC has provided the incentive to put it all on the line.
“I’m a fighter and there’s competitiveness in me,” Edgar said. “You see the naysayers or haters or wherever you want to call them always say stuff like, ‘Oh he’s poor, he needs to fight.’ That’s definitely not the case. But the money does make it worth it. That’s for sure.”
