Frankie Edgar is back in the fight conversation again, and this time it’s not just a rumor or a brief comeback tease.
The former UFC lightweight champion is officially returning to action under the Real American Freestyle banner, stepping into a high-profile matchup against Merab Dvalishvili at RAF 9 on May 30 in Dallas.
The bout comes together after Dvalishvili’s original opponent, Henry Cejudo, withdrew just hours before their scheduled RAF 8 main event due to injury. Rather than wait on the sidelines, the former UFC bantamweight champion stays active and now draws another elite-level veteran in Edgar.
The event itself carries serious star power, with Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson headlining against Alexandr Romanov and Colby Covington meeting former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman in the co-main event.
Frankie Edgar, one of the most respected fighters in MMA history, now steps into a new chapter of his combat sports journey. Before becoming a UFC champion, Edgar built his foundation in wrestling at Clarion University, where he qualified for the NCAA Championships multiple times. Even after transitioning fully into MMA, he stayed connected to the sport, working closely with wrestling programs in New Jersey and helping develop athletes like Olympic bronze medalist Sebastian Rivera.
Edgar’s career inside the UFC cemented his legacy as one of the toughest and most durable fighters of his era. A lightweight champion who later challenged for titles at featherweight and bantamweight, he consistently fought the best across multiple generations.
Now, he returns in a completely different competitive environment, facing one of the most dominant modern wrestlers in the sport.
“Now faces off with Dvalishvili at RAF 9 in a battle of former UFC champions.”
Edgar’s last official MMA appearance came at UFC 281, where he suffered a knockout loss to Chris Gutierrez, marking the end of his UFC run. Since then, he has remained mostly outside the cage, briefly exploring a possible Bare Knuckle FC appearance that ultimately fell through.
At one point, Edgar was linked to a return fight in BKFC, but that matchup never materialized, pushing him further into coaching and wrestling-related work rather than competition.
Now, the focus shifts back to active competition.
Dvalishvili, meanwhile, continues to navigate his own career crossroads after losing the UFC bantamweight title to Petr Yan in their rematch at UFC 323. A potential trilogy between the two remains a possibility, but for now, he turns his attention to RAF 9 and a new challenge against a Hall of Fame-caliber opponent.
Edgar will chase his first victory since 2020, when he earned a split decision win over Pedro Munhoz. Since then, he dropped three straight fights before officially stepping away from MMA competition.
This matchup brings together two different eras of UFC success, Edgar’s legacy of durability and championship pedigree against Dvalishvili’s relentless modern wrestling pressure. And for Frankie Edgar, it’s another chance to test himself on a completely new stage.
