Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has accused Usman Nurmagomedov, his brother Umar and several associates of attacking him and a friend in a hotel lobby in Abu Dhabi, just days before his scheduled appearance at RAF Abu Dhabi.
The incident reportedly happened on Wednesday, November 11, while Dvalishvili was taking part in a media interview for the Real American Freestyle (RAF) event. Footage shared online shows a group approaching Dvalishvili from behind before an altercation breaks out, leaving the Georgian fighter visibly bloodied.
Dvalishvili addressed the incident in a video posted to his social media, where he appeared with blood on his face and described how he and his friend were allegedly attacked. According to the former UFC champion, he was conducting an interview in the hotel lobby when Usman and several associates approached them from behind and began throwing punches.
In his account, Dvalishvili also alleged that security personnel restrained him while members of the group continued attacking them. He expressed frustration over the manner in which the incident unfolded, accusing the group of taking advantage of the fact that he and his friend were outnumbered.
“What a sneaky way, just two of us, me and my friend came here in Abu Dhabi, and Usman Nurmagomedov and his friends came like snakes from behind,” Dvalishvili said in the video. “What kind of fighters you guys are? What kind of man does this? If you want to talk and fight, let’s do it the real way. You guys came from f*cking—just because there’s two of us, and you guys were prepared. What the f*ck?”
The situation attracted further attention after former UFC two-division champion Ilia Topuria shared footage of the incident. The video, described by MMA Fighting as a 37-second clip, shows Dvalishvili preparing for an RAF promotional interview when a group approaches him. A man identified as possibly Usman Nurmagomedov gets his attention before striking him in the face.
The footage then shows a wider scuffle involving several people, with Dvalishvili and his friend exchanging blows with members of the opposing group. At one point, a figure appearing to be Dvalishvili is lifted and thrown to the ground. Security personnel eventually intervene as those involved are separated.
Although the footage provides additional context, it does not establish every detail of Dvalishvili’s account or identify every individual involved. Topuria initially condemned the alleged attack in a social media post before deleting it. He later claimed that Usman and others had been detained, although that claim had not been independently confirmed in the available reporting.
The incident adds another chapter to the tension between Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov camp.
Dvalishvili previously faced Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January 2025, successfully defending his bantamweight championship with a unanimous decision victory after five rounds. Their rivalry was already heated before the fight, and tensions have continued in the period since their meeting.
The latest confrontation now brings Umar’s brother Usman into the centre of the dispute, with Dvalishvili accusing both brothers and their associates of taking part in the hotel altercation. Neither Usman nor Umar had publicly responded to Dvalishvili’s accusations in the initial reports. Despite appearing bloodied after the incident, Dvalishvili insisted that he was fine and indicated that the altercation would not stop him from competing.
“We bleed, we fight, we war, but you guys are just sneaky guys,” Dvalishvili said. “You guys aren’t real men. This shows your guys’ character, shows you guys are not real men. What the f*ck, guys? If you want to fight, fight. Let’s f*cking fight. We are fighters. I talk, I’m a real guy, I talk straight, but you guys came from behind. I don’t know how many guys you was. All your friends, waiting for us in a sneaky way. Wow, bro. Wow. I knew what kind of guys you are.
“I just came here in Abu Dhabi and then Usman, Umar, and his friends came in a sneaky way and tried to beat us. So many guys.” “I’m fine,” Dvalishvili said. “All my friends and family, I’m f*cking fine, I’m a fighter. This is nothing for me. Again, it shows what kind of people you guys are.”
He is scheduled to face former UFC fighter Marlon Moraes in a wrestling match at RAF Abu Dhabi on Saturday, November 14, at the Etihad Arena. The incident has consequently added an unexpected layer of drama to the event, with attention now extending beyond the scheduled wrestling match.
For now, Dvalishvili has maintained that he is ready to compete, while the allegations surrounding the hotel altercation have yet to receive a detailed public response from the Nurmagomedov brothers.
