Merab Dvalishvili will not be making his UFC return just yet, as he is set to compete under Real American Freestyle rules instead.
Dvalishvili last appeared in the Octagon this past December, when he lost his bantamweight title to Petr Yan. The Georgian star had been on an incredible run before that defeat.
After that fight, the 35-year-old said he wanted an immediate rematch with ‘No Mercy’, but those plans were put on hold after Yan needed back surgery and was sidelined for several months.
Rather than wait for Yan’s recovery, ‘The Machine‘ has decided to stay active by taking a wrestling match with Real American Freestyle.
Merab Dvalishvili to headline RAF08 event
RAF06, set for February 28th, will be headlined by Henry Cejudo and Urijah Faber.
Arman Tsarukyan is also on the card and will take on Georgio Poullas.
As the promotion continues its trend of keeping big names active, it was recently announced that Dvalishvili will make his debut appearance at RAF08.
This Tuesday in a press release, ‘The Machine’ was confirmed as the headliner of RAF08, taking place on April 18 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
Chad Bronstein, RAF CEO, stated: “Merab is elite, relentless, and rooted in wrestling.
“When athletes of his caliber step onto the RAF stage, it reinforces what this league represents – the professional home for the sport’s best.”
An opponent for Dvalishvili has not yet been confirmed. The promotion is expected to announce more details in the coming weeks.
What comes next for Merab Dvalishvili in the UFC?
Dvalishvili had initially been eyeing a return at the UFC White House event, which is set for June 14.
But with Yan still on the mend, it is hard to pin down exactly when the Russian champion will be back in action.
When he does return, though, his first title defence is likely to be against Dvalishvili. That would set up their third meeting and finally put an end to their ongoing rivalry.
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