Merab Dvalishvili rejected RAF offer that will have seen Arman Tsarukyan wrestle twice in a single night

Merab Dvalishvili’s Real American Freestyle debut has been delayed, nevertheless it didn’t should be.

The previous UFC bantamweight champion was set to be the most recent MMA fighter crossing over to compete in the brand new wrestling organization.

He was scheduled to headline in Philadelphia on April 18 until Henry Cejudo pulled out of RAF 08 just hours before the event, elevating Arman Tsarukyan’s clash with Urijah Faber to the fundamental event.

‘The Machine’ was left off the cardboard, nevertheless it seems another option was available that would have kept the Georgian’s debut intact.

If Sean Strickland is capable of stop Khamzat Chimaev’s dominant wrestling, how much of a probability do you give him?🤔

Sean Strickland is believed to have the striking advantage over Khamzat Chimaev.

Merab Dvalishvili was offered an Arman Tsarukyan match at RAF 08 after Henry Cejudo pulled out

The previous two-division UFC champion won’t be disclosing why he withdrew from RAF 08 on short notice, as an alternative describing his issue as “personal.”

Dvalishvili missed out on his probability to record a second victory over Cejudo in combat sports because of this, having already gotten the higher of the MMA legend within the Octagon at UFC 298.

He’ll as an alternative debut against one other legend in Frankie Edgar at RAF 09 on May 30, but that matchup might have been his second had he accepted the promotion’s offer to face Tsarukyan.

The UFC lightweight contender was apparently willing to compete twice in a single night to be able to keep ‘The Machine’ on the lineup in Philadelphia.

“After, they did offer me Arman Tsarukyan,” Dvalishvili said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “That matchup doesn’t make sense, especially Arman desired to compete with me and Urijah. He was able to do it (two matches in a single night).

“Also, you already know, he is 2 weight classes larger than me. I used to be eager about it, but thank god I didn’t (take the match) because what Arman did against Urijah Faber, the legend, I used to be dissatisfied.

“Arman shouldn’t throw him out like that,” he continued. “Urijah is a excellent man and a excellent fighter. I actually have much more respect for him how he handled this case.

“I don’t prefer it, how Arman threw him out. That wasn’t crucial. And it shouldn’t have happened.”

The moment Dvalishvili is referring to was when Tsarukyan launched Faber off the stage onto the concrete floor at RAF 08.

That marked the Armenian’s latest controversy on the mats. He was also involved in a brawl after his match against Georgio Poullas at RAF 06 in February.

Nevertheless, Tsarukyan had his hand raised over Faber to stay undefeated in RAF. The following man seeking to change that’s influencer Mugzy, who will face the UFC star on the identical card as Dvalishvili’s debut next month.