Frankie Edgar returns, faces Merab Dvalishvili at RAF09 on May 30 in Dallas

Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will tangle with former UFC bantamweight titleholder Merab Dvalishvili in “The Answer’s” return to the wrestling mats as part of the upcoming RAF09 lineup on May 30 at College Park Center in Dallas, Texas.

The event will stream exclusively on FOX Nation.

RAF09 will be headlined by the heavyweight showdown pitting Gable Steveson against Alexandr Romanov. Elsewhere on the card, Colby Covington collides with former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. In addition, Kennedy Blades goes head-to-head with Alexis Gomez.

RAF started out as a showcase for amateur wrestling and has quickly transmogrified into a destination for inactive UFC fighters awaiting their next assignment. MMA fans typically boo when UFC fights turn into prolonged wrestling matches, so I’m not sure why this appeals to them.

Maybe that’s why Arman is always starting fights or throwing his opponent into the bleachers.

Edgar, 44, is a former collegiate wrestler who retired from UFC back in late 2022, then tried to resurrect his career in the world of bare knuckle boxing. That experiment was over before it began, which is probably for the best when you consider Edgar’s history of concussions.

Expect more RAF09 announcements in the coming days.