Frankie Edgar Backs Himself to Beat Merab Dvalishvili in 6-Minute RAF 09 Wrestling Match
Updated
Updated · Yardbarker · May 29
Frankie Edgar Backs Himself to Beat Merab Dvalishvili in 6-Minute RAF 09 Wrestling Match
4 articles · Updated · Yardbarker · May 29
Frankie Edgar, 44, said a six-minute wrestling match at RAF 09 gives him a realistic shot against Merab Dvalishvili, even if he would not favor himself in a full 15- or 25-minute fight.
Edgar said age and wear on his body have changed the equation, calling fighting a young man’s sport and framing wrestling as a safer format after a disappointing BKFC stint nearly pushed him to stop competing.
Merab enters the matchup with elite wrestling credentials but is also chasing a return to the UFC bantamweight title picture after losing his belt in December 2025.
That title path is tied to Petr Yan, who reportedly underwent nine-hour back surgery in January 2026; with summer cards largely set, a rubber match with Dvalishvili may slip to October.
After career-altering back surgery, can Petr Yan survive a title trilogy with the relentless Merab Dvalishvili?
Can 44-year-old Frankie Edgar's wrestling experience defy age against a top contender in his prime?
With UFC stars on its card, is the RAF 09 event a one-off spectacle or a new promotional rivalry?