Former UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili set to compete at RAF Abu Dhabi after hotel incident

Merab Dvalishvili, a former UFC champion, is scheduled to face Marlon Moraes at the Real American Freestyle (RAF) event in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night, according to the promotion’s Instagram confirmation. The bout will be broadcast on FOX Nation.

RAF CEO and co-founder Chad Bronstein said in a statement, "I’m pleased to share that Merab Dvalishvili is back with us in Abu Dhabi. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi for their professionalism and support. We remain focused on moving forward and are pleased to have Merab back with us."

Earlier in the week, Dvalishvili and a 21-year-old companion, Sabaa Lazishvili, were involved in a physical confrontation in a hotel lobby in Abu Dhabi, after which they were briefly detained by police. Dvalishvili posted on social media that his friend, a wrestler from Georgia, defended himself during the incident.

Lazishvili has been added to the same RAF card, replacing Umar Nurmagomedov, and is slated to fight UFC veteran Urijah Faber. Nurmagomedov is facing a six-month prison sentence, a fine of $82,000 and eventual deportation.

Industry sources suggest the hotel incident may be linked to tensions stemming from UFC 311 earlier this year, where Dvalishvili defended his bantamweight title.

Dvalishvili has indicated he does not intend to pursue legal action related to the altercation.