Merab Dvalishvili set to fight at RAF Abu Dhabi after hotel brawl
According to Fox News, former UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili was set to face Marlon Moraes at the Real American Freestyle event in Abu Dhabi, despite a recent hotel-lobby altercation that resulted in brief police custody. Earlier, CBS Sports reported that Dvalishvili said he and a companion were attacked by Usman Nurmagomedov and his associates during a media event, and The National added that the assault left him with facial injuries.
UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev later defended Nurmagomedov on Instagram, saying the incident began with Dvalishvili's actions (Yahoo Sports). MMA Junkie reported that six members of Team Nurmagomedov received six-month prison terms, fines and deportation orders for the brawl, and Yahoo Sports noted that Dvalishvili urged authorities to release Nurmagomedov and seven co-defendants.
