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UFC star and 21-year-old friend reportedly cleared to wrestle at RAF days after fending off hotel lobby ambush
Merab Dvalishvili is reportedly set to wrestle Marlon Moraes at a Real American Freestyle event in Abu Dhabi, days after he and a friend were attacked in a hotel lobby. RAF said Dvalishvili had returned to Abu Dhabi and confirmed he would compete, making the bout notable given the incident and the uncertainty around the event.
Dvalishvili said his 21-year-old Georgian friend, wrestler Sabaa Lazishvili, was also involved in the altercation and held his own. Lazishvili has reportedly been added to the card in place of Umar Nurmagomedov and is expected to face Urijah Faber. The article says Nurmagomedov faces six months in prison, an $82,000 fine and deportation after serving his term; Dvalishvili has said he does not want to press charges.
In short
- Dvalishvili is reportedly cleared to wrestle in Abu Dhabi.
- His 21-year-old friend has reportedly joined the RAF card.
- Umar Nurmagomedov faces prison, a fine and deportation.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Allowing Dvalishvili and Lazishvili to compete could respect their choices, preserve the event and recognise that athletes may prefer to return to their work rather than let an attack dictate their plans. If they are medically fit and the organisers have assessed the risks, proceeding can be consistent with personal autonomy and professional responsibility.
The case against
The recent hotel attack may leave physical or psychological effects that are not immediately apparent, so competing only days later could put the athletes’ health at risk. Organisers also have a duty to ensure the bout is safe and should consider postponement if recovery, security or the circumstances around the incident have not been adequately assessed.
Explained simply
Merab Dvalishvili is a Georgian mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC, a major organisation for mixed martial arts. Marlon Moraes is a Brazilian former UFC fighter, while Real American Freestyle (RAF) stages wrestling matches, a sport focused on taking and holding an opponent down.
The story also involves Sabaa Lazishvili, a 21-year-old Georgian wrestler and friend of Dvalishvili, and Urijah Faber, a former UFC fighter. The reported hotel attack has drawn attention to the event because it involved people connected to its planned bouts; Dvalishvili has said he does not want to press charges.