While it was a month later than initially planned, Merab Dvalishvili still had a successful debut in RAF, defeating Frankie Edgar at RAF 09.
Edgar had some success early in the bout, controlling the mat throughout the first period and earning a point on a Dvalishvili shot clock violation. The former UFC bantamweight champion, however, picked things up in the second round, scoring a point when Edgar stepped out of bounds, and adding another two on a takedown.
Dvalishvili got things out of hand in the third, scoring multiple points through takedowns and exposure points, racking up a 12-1 score for a technical fall victory.
Dvalishvili was scheduled to make his RAF debut at RAF 08 against Henry Cejudo but injury took Cejudo out of the bout hours before the event was to begin. Dvalishvili used his RAF 09 post-fight interview time to call out Cejudo.
This marked Edgar’s RAF debut.