Dvalishvili was giving a media interview at a hotel on Wednesday ahead of a Real American Freestyle (RAF) grappling event when the attack happened. The former UFC champion later posted a video showing his face covered in blood, claiming that Usman Nurmagomedov, his brother Umar, and over a dozen other fighters from Dagestan ambushed him and his close friend, Saba Lazishvili, CBS Sports reported.
“What a sneaky way, guys. 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, bro? If you want to fight, let’s do it like the real way.”
He further alleged these men continued to kick him and Lazishvili even after they had fallen to the ground, all while security were holding him back.
Footage circulating on social media shows Nurmagomedov approaching Dvalishvili and exchanging a few words before slapping him across the face, igniting the fight.
Dvalishvili was later treated by medical staff for injuries to his face.
Ilia Topuria, a former two-division UFC champion and close friend of Dvalishvili, shared the video and condemned the action.
“You’re a bunch of cowards, and you’ll be held accountable for what you’ve done,” Topuria wrote. “You’re anything but real men.”
The altercation between Merab Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov camp. Video by X/@RedCorner_MMA
The incident has drawn attention beyond the world of combat sports.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the PSG and Georgia national team star, posted a photo of the altercation on Instagram to express his support for his two compatriots.
“Merab, saba! Thank you and we are with you! Show the world once again what it means to be Georgian, man and human,” he wrote.
The PSG forward strongly criticized the act of attacking from behind and using superior numbers against an individual.
Many prominent UFC fighters also condemned the incident.
Sean Strickland lashed out at Nurmagomedov on social media, calling for a lifetime ban for all those involved in the ambush. Gilbert Burns emphasized that professional fighters should always set an example through their conduct. Paulo Costa criticized the group for ganging up on one or two individuals, while Brandon Royval praised Lazishvili for standing by Dvalishvili’s side during the brawl.
On the other hand, UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev defended his Dagestani teammates. He argued that the conflict actually stemmed from a prior incident where Dvalishvili beat up a Dagestani wrestler at an RAF event in Georgia and even insulted the man’s mother, claiming that it was the Georgian fighter who started the incident in Abu Dhabi, MMA Fighting reported.
On Thursday, Abu Dhabi police announced the arrest of 10 people in connection with the hotel brawl, including eight who participated in the fight and two who filmed it. They have all been referred to the public prosecutor’s office for further legal action, though authorities have not disclosed their identities, according to Athlon Sports.
In an update that same afternoon, MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reported that those involved, including Dvalishvili and Lazishvili, remained in police custody nearly 24 hours later. Zviad Lazishvili also confirmed that both his brother Saba and Dvalishvili had not yet been released at that time, NY Fights reported.
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Merab Dvalishvili and his UFC bantamweight title. Photo by Instagram/@merab.dvalishvili |
The altercation has also affected the RAF Abu Dhabi event scheduled for Saturday. During a press conference on Thursday, the organization’s co-founder, Chad Bronstein, confirmed that Usman Nurmagomedov is banned from the event.
Bronstein stated that RAF is working closely with local authorities and expressed hope that Dvalishvili will still be able to compete, according to Reuters.
According to the original schedule, Dvalishvili was set to face Marlon Moraes, while Umar Nurmagomedov was slated to fight Urijah Faber.
Their participation now remains unconfirmed, with organizers expected to make a final decision within the next day or two.
Usman was not originally on the fight card and he only traveled to the UAE to support his brother.
Tensions between Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov camp previously started ahead of a bantamweight title bout at UFC 311 in January 2025. In that fight, Dvalishvili defeated Umar by unanimous decision, successfully defending his championship and ending his opponent’s undefeated streak. Subsequent exchanges have kept the tension between the two sides alive since.
Usman is the younger brother of Umar and a cousin of legendary former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. The former PFL lightweight champion is considered a potential addition to the UFC, fueling anticipation for a future showdown against Topuria.