Overview
- Merab Dvalishvili defeated Frankie Edgar by a 12-1 technical fall in Period 3 at RAF 9, which took place Saturday at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.
- After a slow first period, Dvalishvili scored multiple takedowns and turns across Periods 2 and 3 to build the lead that triggered the technical superiority finish.
- Dvalishvili suffered a fresh break to his nose when heads clashed and the match was briefly stopped for blood, though he continued and did not allow the injury to change the outcome.
- Immediately after the win he publicly challenged Henry Cejudo, noting Cejudo had withdrawn hours before their originally scheduled RAF 8 meeting and demanding the next match.
- Dvalishvili remains tied to a possible trilogy with Petr Yan but that fight has no date while Yan recovers from back surgery, so Dvalishvili plans to stay active in RAF to keep sharp and raise his profile.