Merab Dvalishvili vs. Frankie Edgar set for RAF 09 in Dallas on May 30

Merab Dvalishvili and Frankie Edgar have been booked to fight at RAF 09 in Dallas on May 30, adding a prominent bantamweight contest to a card that was already announced to feature a heavyweight clash between Gable Steveson and Alexander Romanov.

Dvalishvili, known as "The Machine," enters the matchup as one of the most decorated bantamweights in the sport. The 35-year-old Georgian holds a 21-5-0 record and is ranked first in the bantamweight division and second pound-for-pound. Training out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, Dvalishvili is renowned for his relentless output and wrestling pressure, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 4.33 significant strikes landed per minute.

Edgar, nicknamed "The Answer," is a UFC Hall of Famer and former title challenger who brings a record of 23-11-1 into this bout. The 44-year-old New Jersey native stands at five-foot-six with a 68-inch reach — identical measurements to Dvalishvili — and has long been regarded as one of the most durable and technically sound fighters in MMA history. He averages 3.77 significant strikes per minute and 2.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, reflecting the well-rounded game that defined his career at the highest levels.

RAF is a competing MMA promotion, and this event is shaping up as one of the more notable cards the organization has staged.

Why it matters

• Dvalishvili is a top-two pound-for-pound fighter stepping outside the UFC, raising the event's profile considerably
• Edgar, a Hall of Famer, provides a recognizable and credible opponent with elite-level pedigree
• The stylistic matchup pits Dvalishvili's high-volume wrestling attack against Edgar's tested defensive skills and ring generalship
• The Steveson vs. Romanov heavyweight bout was already the announced headliner, giving the card two marquee attractions