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Frankie Edgar Discusses RAF Debut Against Merab Dvalishvili

Frankie Edgar opened up about his decision to return to competition with Real American Freestyle. Edgar will return to his amateur wrestling roots to face Merab Dvalishvili at RAF 09 on May. 30.

Edgar, 44, retired from MMA in 2022. Although he retired as an active competitor, ‘The Answer’ stayed involved in the sport through coaching.

While initially hesitant, he ultimately decided to pursue a return to competition.

“Lance Palmer is a good friend of mine, he’s kind of an executive over there and he’s kind of getting in my ear a little bit about competing and I kind of was on the fence,” Edgar exclusively told Heavy Sports. “They they were talking about coming to New Jersey and that kind of piqued my interest so I threw my hat in the ring.”

The former UFC lightweight champion will face Dvalishvili, who is a similar size. Despite ‘The Machine’ being an active UFC competitor known for his overwhelming pace and wrestling, Edgar remains confident.

“[Dvalishvili] has a motor on him, he’s like a bus driver, his name is ‘The Machine.’ That’s exactly what he is. He’s going to come guns blazing, I know that,” he said. “But, he’s not a natural wrestler, I guess you could say, but he knows how to grapple.”

He added: “Even though it’s been 22 years since my last freestyle match, at least I have more matches in freestyle than he does.”

Frankie Edgar Opens Up About Decision to Join RAF

Frankie Edgar also opened up about his decision to join RAF. While he no longer has to worry about being punched, kicked, or elbowed, preparation for wrestling still requires intense work.

Given the time limits in RAF, freestyle wrestling matches can take a physical toll. However, Edgar noted that his family is much happier about his decision to compete in freestyle wrestling rather than other combat sports.

“My wife’s much more happier with [RAF]. Luckily, I’m not taking any hits to the head and brain, so that’s a plus. But I actually feel surprisingly good. It’s a six-minute match, not a 25-minute fight, so that helps too,” Edgar exclusively told Heavy Sports. “The intensity of a six-minute match might be greater than a 25-minute fight, so it’s going to be fun.”

He added: “I’m having fun in this process, so if we could string a couple matches, you know, throughout the next couple years, I would love to [continue with RAF].”

Edgar Was a NCAA Division 1 Wrestler

Edgar enters his RAF matchup having competed at the highest level in collegiate wrestling during his time at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. While there, ‘The Answer’ was an NCAA Division 1 wrestler.

Edgar described his collegiate wrestling career as a valuable learning experience.

“It was definitely a learning experience, kind of an adjustment period. Coming from high school to college level is tough,” Edgar exclusively told Heavy Sports. “It took a little adjusting, but I started my freshman year, I made it to Nationals, so I had a solid campaign.”

Edgar spoke highly of RAF providing wrestlers and fighters with another platform to compete.

“RAF has taken the world by storm, I guess in a way,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for these guys, and for us fighters as well.”