Merab Dvalishvili received a mixed reaction from the crowd after calling for Usman Nurmagomedov and his crew to be released from custody following their mass brawl earlier this week.
On Tuesday, UFC superstar Ilia Topuria shared footage of Dvalishvili and his friend Saba Lishvili being ambushed by Nurmagomedov inside a hotel lobby ahead of his fight against Marlon Moraes at the Real American Freestyle (RAF) event on Saturday evening (November 14).
Days after being left bloodied from the attack, Dvalishvili secured a stunning victory over Moraes in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and immediately made a clear request in his post-fight interview after six-month prison sentences and a £62,000 fine were handed out to six of the defendants.
On Friday (November 14), Dvalishvili commented for the first time after his release and, despite the animosity, he called for everyone to be involved to be released and stressed he would "not press charges".
"Just want to let everyone know I have been released, and I am good, healthy and ready to go," the former UFC bantamweight champion wrote on X.
"I want to thank everyone in Abu Dhabi for your help in resolving this matter. I love visiting Abu Dhabi and am happy to be welcomed. I do hope that they release everyone – I would not press charges. I want peace and the best for all. Thanks everyone for your love and support."
Then, immediately after taking down Moraes at the Etihad Arena, Dvalishvili doubled down on that stance in his post-fight interview, saying: "I will say Abu Dhabi government or whoever can do it, please release those guys and let them out, please. We are just fighters, and these things happen, please."
The Georgian received a mixture of cheers and boos from the large majority inside the arena, which demonstrates the division this incident has caused.
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