Real American Freestyle confirmed on Friday that Merab Dvalishvili and Usman Nurmagomedov would both compete at its Abu Dhabi event. The wrestling league said it would not suspend either man over a brawl captured on video earlier in the week. A spokesperson for Real American Freestyle said the event would go ahead as planned, with tighter security around both camps.

The melee broke out during promotional duties ahead of the Abu Dhabi show. Footage circulated widely on social media and showed team members from both sides trading blows before security staff separated them. The league said it had reviewed the footage with venue security and local event partners before reaching its decision.

The rivalry has roots in the UFC. Dvalishvili, the former UFC bantamweight champion, beat Umar Nurmagomedov, Usman's older brother, at UFC 311 in Los Angeles in January 2025. Usman Nurmagomedov, who won the Bellator lightweight title, trains in the Dagestani camp built around his cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili lost his UFC belt to Petr Yan in December 2025.

The league said both fighters and their teams would be kept apart for the rest of fight week. It added that further misconduct would bring removal from the card.

Real American Freestyle, launched in 2025 as a professional freestyle wrestling circuit, has leaned heavily on mixed martial arts stars to build an audience. Pulling either man would have cost its Gulf debut one of its most marketable names.

The decision was likely to draw criticism from those who argued the league was rewarding a viral confrontation. The spokesperson rejected that view, saying the league had acted on the evidence and protected fans attending the event.

"We have spoken to both teams, and both understand the line," the Real American Freestyle spokesperson said. "The competition happens on the mat, and that is where it will stay."