The UFC star and his 21-year-old friend were reportedly cleared to fight at the RAF days after fending off an ambush in the hotel lobby.

Merab Dvalishvili started his week by being ambushed in a hotel lobby, but he ends it again Saturday night in the ring.

That’s correct. Despite some headwinds – which you’ll see in just a minute – the former UFC champion would face Marlon Moraes at RAF (Real American Freestyle) later today on FOX Nation.

WATCH RAF ON FOX NATION

“I am pleased to announce that Merab Dvalishvili is back with us in Abu Dhabi,” Chad Bronstein, CEO and co-founder of the RAF, wrote in a statement. “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi for their professionalism and support.

“We remain focused on the future and are delighted to have Merab back with us.”

The RAF confirmed via Instagram that Dvalishvili had been “confirmed” for tonight’s fight.

Here’s footage of the fight (probably an understatement), which took place earlier in the week in a hotel lobby:

MMA FIGHTERS, INCLUDING FORMER UFC CHAMPIONSHIPS, ENTER IN WILD MELTY IN ABU DHABI HOTEL LOBBY

The former UFC champion will always fight

Good God. What a fight! What an attack. That’s what we call an ambush in the business, folks. Just brutal stuff.

Thanks to Dvalishvili, who held on – with his friend Sabaa Lazishvili, 21 years old. That was the most impressive part. You’d expect the former UFC fighter to hold his own, but his friend really took over here.

Credit where credit is due.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

“My young friend, he’s just a 21-year-old Georgian wrestler, and he was with me,” Dvalishvili said via social media. “He fought his two brothers, Usman and Umar. He said, ‘I’ll move on to MMA if only two guys can do that to me.’ And then he fought the other guys too.

“Oh my God. Security was holding me, and they were kicking and punching us. What is this? Life is good, guys. Everything’s okay. Everything’s okay.”

Khabib Nurmagomedov before a fight between Merab Dvalishvili (not pictured) and Umar Nurmagomedov (not pictured) during UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on January 18, 2025. (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

Merab Dvalishvili fights Sean O’Malley in a bantamweight title fight at UFC 316 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on June 7, 2025. (IMAGINE IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Here’s the real kicker: Lazishvili has now been ADDED to Saturday’s RAF Abu Dhabi card at the Etihad Arena in the United Arab Emirates. The Georgian will indeed replace Umar Nurmagomedov and would face UFC legend Urijah Faber.

Amazing.

As for Nurmagomedov… he is currently facing six months in prison following Wednesday’s attack, and will also have to pay an $82,000 fine and be sentenced to deportation after his prison term. Dvalishvili has since said he does not wish to press charges.

Industry insiders believe Wednesday’s attack stems from UFC 311 in January 2025. Dvalishvili defended his bantamweight title via unanimous decision, and the two have traded barbs ever since.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Looks like Dvalishvili may have had the last laugh, though…

At least for a few months.