Merab Dvalishvili will compete at RAF Abu Dhabi.
The former UFC bantamweight champion was attacked earlier in the week by Usman Nurmagomedov and several members of his team. Despite being bloodied up, and being detained for around 48 hours, Dvalishvili made the choice to still face Marlon Moraes on Saturday’s wrestling event at Etihad Arena.
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Additionally, Saba Lazishvili, the 21-year-old shown fighting alongside Dvalishvili while vastly outnumbered — even dropping several members of Nurmagomedov’s team in the process — has also been added to the lineup. Lazishvili replaces Umar Nurmgomedov to face Urijah Faber on the card. Lazishvili is a lifelong wrestler and set to make his professional wrestling debut.
RAF Abu Dhabi is headlined by a light heavyweight crossover championship bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Chris Weidman, while Arman Tsarukyan faces Neiman Gracie in the co-main event.
Check out the updated card below.
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Chris Weidman
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Arman Tsarukyan vs. Neiman Gracie
Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Giga Chikadze
Abdulrashid Sadulaev vs. Dauren Kurugliev
Kyle Dake vs. Alp Arslan Begenjov
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Marlon Moraes
Urijah Faber vs. Saba Lazishvili
Jordan Burroughs vs. Azamat Nurykau
Kyle Snyder vs. Shamil Erdogan
Murtaza Talha vs. Osama Elsaidy
Julianna Peña vs. Diana Avsaragova
Zahid Valencia vs. Khidir Saipudinov
Kennedy Blades vs. Bella Mir
