Merab Dvalishvili Pins Marlon Moraes in 90 Seconds at RAF Abu Dhabi, Then Pleads for His Attackers’ Release
Merab Dvalishvili needed just 90 seconds to pin Marlon Moraes at Real American Freestyle’s Abu Dhabi event on Saturday — and then used his victory speech to plead for the release of the men jailed for attacking him in a hotel lobby earlier in the week.
The former UFC bantamweight champion threw Moraes to the mat with a judo-style throw and secured the pinfall at 1:30 of the opening round in their Catchweight Crossover wrestling match at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Moments later, still holding the microphone, Dvalishvili turned the conversation away from his win and toward the court case hanging over the event.
“We don’t want to press charges, nothing, bro. We say whatever we can to let them out; we try our best,” Dvalishvili told interviewer Chris Weidman, appealing to Abu Dhabi authorities to release PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov and the others detained over the hotel brawl.
A week that nearly kept him off the mat
Dvalishvili’s path to the mat was itself the story of the week. On Wednesday, while he was giving an interview in the lobby of the Yas Hilton hotel, Nurmagomedov and members of his entourage confronted him. Footage of the incident, shared by former UFC champion Ilia Topuria, showed Nurmagomedov striking Dvalishvili from behind before a larger altercation broke out. Dvalishvili and his teammate Saba Lazishvili were among those detained afterward.
The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court moved quickly. Ten people were convicted over the incident, according to the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. Six members of Nurmagomedov’s camp, including the undefeated PFL champion, were each sentenced to six months in prison, fined 300,000 dirhams (about $81,700) and ordered to be deported after serving their sentences, for disturbing public security, causing panic and endangering lives. Two other people who filmed and published footage of the brawl received the same punishment for violating privacy laws. Dvalishvili and Lazishvili were each fined 50,000 dirhams (about $13,600) and released without prison time early on Friday.
The fallout reshaped the card. Umar Nurmagomedov was removed from the event, with Lazishvili stepping in to face UFC legend Urijah Faber. Until Friday, it was not certain Dvalishvili would be cleared to compete at all.
Why this matters
The result settles a sporting rivalry and closes a chaotic chapter for a promotion still finding its feet. Dvalishvili had already beaten Moraes once before, stopping the Brazilian by second-round TKO at UFC 266 in September 2021. Under wrestling rules on Saturday, he needed only a minute and a half.
But the lasting image of the night may be the plea rather than the pin. A fighter who had been attacked on camera, detained and fined chose to argue publicly for the freedom of the men who attacked him — a gesture of reconciliation that drew praise from the crowd and from fellow fighters watching the event, which streamed live on FOX Nation.
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For Nurmagomedov, the legal consequences remain serious. The 20-0 PFL lightweight champion, who has been heavily linked with a move to the UFC once his current deal expires, now faces six months in a UAE prison followed by deportation, unless an appeal or a pardon changes the outcome. Dvalishvili’s public appeal adds pressure on the authorities to show leniency, though it does not change the court’s verdict by itself.
Latest developments
Dvalishvili left the arena a winner, wrapping himself in the Georgian flag as he celebrated with the crowd. There was no immediate response from Abu Dhabi authorities to his plea, and no word on whether Nurmagomedov or his team will appeal their sentences. Elsewhere in American sport this weekend, the Golden State Warriors were blown out in their first game without the injured Stephen Curry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast did Dvalishvili beat Moraes?
Dvalishvili pinned Moraes at 1:30 of the first round — 90 seconds into their Catchweight Crossover wrestling match at RAF Abu Dhabi on Saturday, November 14.
What did Dvalishvili say after the match?
He appealed to Abu Dhabi authorities to release Usman Nurmagomedov and the others jailed over the hotel brawl, saying he did not want to press charges and would do what he could to help free them.
What happened in the hotel brawl?
On Wednesday, November 11, Nurmagomedov and members of his entourage confronted Dvalishvili during an interview in the lobby of the Yas Hilton hotel in Abu Dhabi. Footage showed Nurmagomedov striking Dvalishvili from behind before a wider fight broke out.
What sentences were handed down?
Ten people were convicted. Six members of Nurmagomedov’s camp received six-month prison sentences, fines of 300,000 dirhams (about $81,700) each and deportation orders. Two people who filmed the brawl received the same punishment. Dvalishvili and Saba Lazishvili were fined 50,000 dirhams (about $13,600) each and released.
Dvalishvili came to Abu Dhabi for a wrestling match and ended up at the center of a criminal case, a courtroom verdict and a debate about sportsmanship. He left with a 90-second win — and a public plea to end the conflict he never started.
Sources: Athlon Sports · MMA Mania · Bloody Elbow · Sportbible · Yardbarker · MMA Fighting
