Merab Dvalishvili and Frankie Edgar will face each other at RAF 09 in Dallas on May 30. The announcement adds another significant matchup to the event, which was previously confirmed to be headlined by Gable Steveson versus Alexander Romanov. This bout represents a notable clash between Dvalishvili, a rising contender, and Edgar, a veteran former champion. The event is shaping up to be an exciting card for fans. The May 30 date gives fighters approximately one month to complete their training camps.
Merab Dvalishvili and Frankie Edgar have been officially booked to face each other at RAF 09 in Dallas on May 30, adding a high-profile bantamweight clash to a card that is already headlined by Gable Steveson versus Alexander Romanov.
Dvalishvili, known as "The Machine," enters the fight as one of the most dangerous competitors in the bantamweight division. The 35-year-old Georgian carries a 21-5-0 record and currently sits ranked first in the bantamweight division and second in the pound-for-pound standings. Training out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, Dvalishvili is best known for his relentless pace and elite wrestling, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes while also landing 4.33 significant strikes per minute. At five-foot-six with a 68-inch reach, he is a physical mirror image of his opponent.
Frankie Edgar, nicknamed "The Answer," brings a storied career into this matchup. The 44-year-old American from the Ricardo Almeida Jiu-Jitsu camp holds a 23-11-1 professional record and is a former champion whose name remains synonymous with the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Edgar also stands five-foot-six with a 68-inch reach and averages 3.77 significant strikes per minute with a 40 percent striking accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's number-one divisional ranking means this fight carries significant title implications depending on the wider bantamweight landscape
- Edgar's veteran championship pedigree makes him a credible test for any contender, regardless of his recent record
- The identical physical dimensions of both fighters should make this a closely contested battle of wills and cardio
- The bout adds considerable bantamweight star power to a RAF 09 card already featuring the Steveson-Romanov heavyweight main event
