Merab Dvalishvili says Usman Nurmagomedov and a group of associates attacked him and a friend in a hotel lobby in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, days before the former UFC bantamweight champion’s scheduled wrestling match at RAF Abu Dhabi.
Dvalishvili posted a video on Instagram while being treated by medics, with blood visible on his face, The National reported. He said he was in the middle of an interview for Real American Freestyle (RAF) when he was approached from behind.
“Was doing an interview for RAF in hotel lobby and Usman and his buddies came up from behind and started punching me and my young friend,” Dvalishvili wrote in the caption. “Security was holding me – They kept kicking us when we were down like losers.”
“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,” he said in the video.
What the footage shows
A video shared by former two-division UFC champion Ilia Topuria, which he later deleted, showed Dvalishvili being approached from behind by a group led by Nurmagomedov, according to The National. The footage showed Dvalishvili turning to face Nurmagomedov, who struck him before a melee broke out, the outlet reported. CBS Sports also reported on the video.
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Dvalishvili also said Usman’s older brother Umar, whom he beat by unanimous decision in a bantamweight title defence at UFC 311 in January 2025, was involved, MMA Fighting reported. Neither brother had publicly responded to the claims at the time of MMA Fighting’s report, and The National said it had contacted RAF for comment.
Still set to wrestle on Saturday
“I’m fine,” Dvalishvili said, adding: “This is nothing for me.”
He is still scheduled to face Marlon Moraes at RAF Abu Dhabi at Etihad Arena on Saturday 14 November, Sherdog reported, while Umar Nurmagomedov is booked to wrestle Urijah Faber on the same card.
Usman Nurmagomedov, 28, is a former PFL lightweight champion and is now a free agent, The National reported. He is not on the RAF card.
Dvalishvili, 35, lost a unanimous decision to bantamweight champion Petr Yan at UFC 333 last month.
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