Dvalishvili, Lazishvili Cleared for RAF Abu Dhabi Bout as Umar Nurmagomedov Faces 6-Month Term

Q: Will the shocking hotel brawl and subsequent arrests derail Merab Dvalishvili's highly anticipated Abu Dhabi showdown?

No. As of Saturday, the brawl has not derailed Merab Dvalishvili’s Abu Dhabi appearance. Real American Freestyle has publicly confirmed that Dvalishvili remains on the card at Etihad Arena and is still scheduled to face Marlon Moraes. RAF CEO Chad Bronstein said Dvalishvili was “back with us in Abu Dhabi,” and the promotion has continued advertising him for the event. Dvalishvili also said he was “good, healthy and ready to go.” The bigger disruption has been around the fallout from the hotel incident, not Dvalishvili’s own status. Abu Dhabi police arrested multiple people after the altercation, and later reports said members of the Nurmagomedov side received prison terms, fines and deportation orders, while Dvalishvili and Saba Lazishvili were fined. Dvalishvili has said he does not want to press charges and wants peace, which may help cool tensions publicly, though legal proceedings are in the hands of local authorities. There have still been sporting consequences. Umar Nurmagomedov was removed from the RAF card, and Lazishvili was inserted as his replacement against Urijah Faber. Usman Nurmagomedov was also barred from attending the event. The remaining uncertainty is competitive rather than contractual: whether the attack, brief detention and emotional strain affect Dvalishvili’s performance. But based on all confirmed information from RAF and Dvalishvili himself, the fight is going ahead, and the show has moved forward despite the turmoil.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Nov 14

RAF confirmed Merab Dvalishvili for Saturday’s Abu Dhabi card after a hotel-lobby ambush earlier this week, with CEO Chad Bronstein saying authorities had cleared his return.
Sabaa Lazishvili, the 21-year-old Georgian who fought alongside Dvalishvili during the attack, was also cleared and added to the Etihad Arena lineup as Umar Nurmagomedov’s replacement against Urijah Faber.
Umar Nurmagomedov now reportedly faces six months in prison, an $82,000 fine and deportation after the Wednesday incident, while Dvalishvili said he does not want to press charges.
Industry insiders linked the clash to bad blood from UFC 311 in January 2025, when Dvalishvili defended his bantamweight title against Nurmagomedov and the two sides kept trading barbs afterward.

Sources

Fox News1h ago

UFC Star Dvalishvili, Friend Lazishvili Cleared for RAF After Hotel Ambush

mixedmartialarts.com1d ago

From the hotel lobby to Etihad Arena: Saba Lazishvili, the 21-year-old who stood beside Merab Dvalishvili, gets Urijah Faber at RAF Abu Dhabi — MixedMartialArts.com

Yahoo Sports1h ago

Saba Lazishvili, Merab Dvalishvili's friend, snatches Umar Nurmagomedov's RAF match after hotel attack - Yahoo Sports

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Will the shocking hotel brawl and subsequent arrests derail Merab Dvalishvili's highly anticipated Abu Dhabi showdown?

How did a young wrestler suddenly replace a Nurmagomedov after a chaotic multi-person hotel fight?

Why did Dvalishvili refuse to press charges after a violent ambush by a bitter rival's camp?

Dvalishvili, Lazishvili Cleared for RAF Abu Dhabi Bout as Umar Nurmagomedov Faces 6-Month Term

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