Jeremy Stephens has warned Frankie Edgar ahead of his BKFC debut next month.
Days before his 44th birthday, Edgar will be coming out of retirement for a bare knuckle boxing match at BKFC 82 in his home state of New Jersey.
The former UFC lightweight champion will be taking on a former UFC top-five contender in Jimmie Rivera, who’s 7-8 years younger and has five bare knuckle bouts on his record.
Fans have expressed their concern for Edgar ahead of his fighting return, with even his own family against the decision.
In 2021 and 2022, the 43-year-old was brutally knocked out in his last three UFC fights against Cory Sandhagen, Chito Vera, and Chris Gutierrez, and sent into retirement.
Jeremy Stephens, a BKFC star as well as a former UFC foe of Edgar’s, thinks Edgar could be making a grave mistake by going bare knuckle.
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Jeremy Stephens says someone should talk Frankie Edgar out of risking health in BKFC debut
Stephens wanted to say something to Edgar at the BKFC 82 press conference in Newark last month.
The UFC veteran shared the cage with Edgar back at UFC 205 in 2016, on the undercard of Conor McGregor’s historic lightweight title win over Eddie Alvarez in Madison Square Garden. Stephens dropped Edgar in the fight but lost a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards.
Almost a decade removed from their fight, Stephens tells Edgar he’s risking his life by following him to BKFC, which Stephens believes to be ‘way more violent’ than UFC.
Stephens suggests someone close to ‘The Answer’ talk him out of it before it’s too late.
“Man, if I’m being honest, if I was like a real friend to Frankie Edgar, if I was like somebody who was like buddies buddies with him. I’d be like, I don’t think you should be fighting, bro,” Stephens told Bloody Elbow.
“Dead honest.
“Not in bare knuckle…
“I almost wanted to say something at the press conference. This isn’t a game. This is different, bro. You’re risking your life and your health is really on the f—— line,” Stephens continued.
“It’s too hot for TV,” said Stephens.
“There’s a reason why it’s on pay-per-view. There’s a reason why it’s one of the hottest sports to come. The baddest combat athletes, true fighting, and your knuckles do turn to knives, and there’s a lot of blood and gore in there, breaking Jaws, orbitals, taking souls in there…”
Stephens broke Eddie Alvarez’s jaw during their fight at Knuckle Mania 5 earlier this year.
“This game is a lot different. I personally don’t [like it], he’s his own man. He makes his own choice when it comes to that night.
“He’s his own man. He made his own choice. But if I was a friend to him, I would say, ‘Hey, look at this situation. Is it really worth it?’
“I don’t think Frankie’s the same as he once was. If I was a friend to him, I’d be telling him not to.”
Jeremy Stephens has fought both Frankie Edgar and his debut opponent Jimmie Rivera
What’s Stephens’ take on Frankie Edgar vs. Jimmie Rivera?
Stephens went the distance with Edgar, but not Rivera, who he fought on the Mike Perry vs. Eddie Alvarez BKFC undercard in Dec. 2023.
Stephens defeated Rivera via doctor’s stoppage TKO at the end of round 3 due to a cut.
“It’s a good matchup for him and old Jimmy,” Stephens said of Edgar fighting Rivera.
“You know, Jimmy hits pretty hard. He’s been doing it….
“I think it’s a good matchup,” Stephens added.
Stephens headlines the BKFC 82 card against Mike Perry, as the two fight for the ‘King of Violence’ title on Oct. 4 in Newark, New Jersey.
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