Frankie Edgar’s retirement fight at UFC 281 ended violently when Chris Gutierrez knocked him out cold in the first round.
A knee up the middle caught Edgar flush, sending him to the canvas at the 2:01 mark of the opening frame. He suffered his third loss by knockout in the four previous fights. Gutierrez, however, extended his unbeaten streak at eight bouts.
“I absolutely love this sport,” Joe Rogan told Edgar afterward. “I didn’t want to go out like that, but this sport’s a b****. My family is here. That’s it .”
Edgar then broke down in the arms of his teammates before exiting the octagon for the final time. Just outside of the cage, he hugged his wife.
Here’s how fighters reacted to Frankie Edgar’s retirement fight on the main card of UFC 281, which took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Ughhhhh
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) November 13, 2022
— Funky (@Benaskren) November 13, 2022
Gutierrez was sharp
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) November 13, 2022
So much respect and love for the great @FrankieEdgar !!! #UFC281
— Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) November 13, 2022
Oh no
— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) November 13, 2022
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) November 13, 2022
— Charles ‘DoBronxs’ Oliveira (@CharlesDoBronxs) November 13, 2022
Head up champ
— C H T O V E R A (@chitoveraUFC) November 13, 2022
Man it sucks seeing a legend go out like that
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) November 13, 2022
Frkkkk that’s not what anyone wanted to see but Frankie rolled the dice one last time. What a hell of a career. Enjoy the next phase legend #UFC281
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) November 13, 2022
That was a** ! No other 40 year old on the roster ? #UFC281
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) November 13, 2022
Sad to see @FrankieEdgar go down like that. This is a difficult sport. Enjoy your retirement legend #ufc281
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) November 13, 2022
. @FrankieEdgar #respect #UFC281
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) November 13, 2022
Outside of my team Frankie Edgar is my favorite fighter. I’m remember Ali asked me to grapple with Frankie when he was in LA. I was genuinely star struck. Thank you for inspiring me and many others like me. God bless you and your family. @FrankieEdgar
— Beneil Dariush (@beneildariush) November 13, 2022
Hate to see a legend go out like that. Unforgiving sport. Frankie’s forever a gangster
— Jeff Molina (@jmolina_125) November 13, 2022
Frankie, you’re a legend brother. There’s nothing to be proud of. You have many opportunities after this chapter of your life. Long live Iron strong, Frankie Edgar! #UFC281
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) November 13, 2022
Your a fucken champ and someone I still look up to @FrankieEdgar you’re a legend my man!!!! Much love . @ufc
— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) November 13, 2022
Still my favorite fighter.
— Kayla Harrison (@KaylaH) November 13, 2022
Frankie Edgar = legend! Coming soon: Hall of Fame entry
— michael (@bisping) November 13, 2022
@FrankieEdgar Legend
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) November 13, 2022
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/11/12/23455695/that-hurt-my-heart-fighters-react-to-frankie-edgars-brutal-knockout-loss-ufc-281-retirement?rand=96749
