TLDR
- Merab Dvalishvili will compete at RAF Abu Dhabi on November 14, three weeks after losing his UFC title
- The Georgian fighter faces Brazilian Marlon Moraes in a Catchweight Crossover wrestling match
- Dvalishvili lost to Petr Yan by unanimous decision at UFC 333 on October 24
- The two fighters previously met at UFC 266 in 2021, with Dvalishvili winning by TKO
- RAF Abu Dhabi marks the start of a five-year partnership between Real American Freestyle and Abu Dhabi tourism
Sources: thenationalnews.com | uk.sports.yahoo.com
Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili will return to Abu Dhabi just three weeks after losing his title. The Georgian fighter has been added to the RAF Abu Dhabi wrestling card on November 14.
Dvalishvili lost his UFC bantamweight championship to Petr Yan by unanimous decision at UFC 333 on October 24. The fight served as the co-main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Now the Georgian will compete in a different sport at the same venue. He faces Brazilian MMA star Marlon Moraes in a Catchweight Crossover wrestling match.
“I’m excited to return to Abu Dhabi and compete at RAF’s first event in the Middle East,” Dvalishvili said. “Abu Dhabi has some of the best combat sports fans in the world, and the atmosphere is always incredible.”
Larry Wheels is twice Merab Dvalishvili’s size but that didn’t seem to matter pic.twitter.com/R3k6LT2HG6
— FIGHTFLIX (@Fightflix_) October 30, 2026
Previous Encounters Between the Fighters
This will not be the first time Dvalishvili and Moraes have competed against each other. The two fighters previously met inside the UFC octagon at UFC 266 in September 2021.
Dvalishvili won that fight by second-round TKO. Now they renew their rivalry on the wrestling mat instead of in mixed martial arts.
Moraes brings extensive combat sports experience to his RAF debut. The Brazilian is a former World Series of Fighting bantamweight champion and a former UFC title challenger.
Dvalishvili, nicknamed “The Machine,” has competed in RAF wrestling three times before. He holds a record of two wins and one loss in the sport.
He made his RAF debut in May 2026, defeating UFC legend Frankie Edgar 12-1. That performance earned him Performance of the Night honors.
His most recent RAF appearance came at RAF Georgia in July. Dvalishvili defeated Olympic gold medallist and former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo 11-8 after trailing 8-0, earning Match of the Night honors.
Star-Studded Event Lineup
“I love wrestling, I love competing, and I’m ready for whoever is standing across from me,” Dvalishvili said. “I’m coming to win and put on a great show for the fans on November 14.”
The RAF Abu Dhabi event features several high-profile fighters from the MMA world. UAE fighter Khamzat Chimaev headlines the card against Colby Covington for the American’s Cruiserweight Crossover Championship.
Other competitors scheduled to appear include Arman Tsarukyan, Neiman Gracie, Umar Nurmagomedov, Urijah Faber, Kyle Snyder, and Julianna Pena. The event will take place at Etihad Arena.
The inaugural RAF Abu Dhabi event represents the beginning of a five-year partnership. The agreement involves Real American Freestyle, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and the UAE Wrestling Federation.
This marks the first time Real American Freestyle has held an event in the Middle East. The organization combines professional wrestling with MMA fighters competing in a different format than their usual octagon bouts.
