Frankie Edgar returns to face Merab Dvalishvili at RAF 9
Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will face ex-bantamweight titleholder Merab Dvalishvili at RAF 9 on May 30 in Dallas, his first competitive appearance since hanging up his gloves in late 2022.
As MMA Fighting first reported, Dvalishvili landed the matchup after his scheduled bout with Henry Cejudo was scrapped hours before RAF 8 in April. Edgar, 44, spent time as a four-time NCAA qualifier at Clarion University before his Hall of Fame run in MMA. He stayed close to wrestling after his cage career, logging hours in the Rutgers room and cornering 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Sebastian Rivera.
Edgar’s return follows failed bare-knuckle experiment
Edgar briefly explored bare knuckle boxing after his UFC exit but abandoned that path before ever competing. According to MMA Mania, the move came amid ongoing concerns about his concussion history. The RAF 9 card at College Park Center will stream on FOX Nation, with Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson topping the bill against Alexandr Romanov. Colby Covington meets former UFC middleweight champ Chris Weidman in the co-main.
RAF began as an amateur wrestling showcase but has evolved into a landing spot for idle UFC fighters between assignments. Kennedy Blades and Alexis Gomez also appear on the May 30 lineup.
Photo: Jemaleddin Cole / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Original reporting:
- mmafighting.com — Merab Dvalishvili vs. Frankie Edgar booked for RAF 9 | MMA Fighting
- mmamania.com — Frankie Edgar returns, faces Merab Dvalishvili on May 30 in Dallas | MMA Mania