Merab Dvalishvili says Usman Nurmagomedov's group jumped him in Abu Dhabi hotel lobby

Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili was left bloodied on Wednesday after a brawl in an Abu Dhabi hotel lobby. He blames unbeaten lightweight Usman Nurmagomedov and his friends. He says they came at him from behind during an interview for RAF, the Real American Freestyle wrestling league. He posted his account on X.

Footage posted by Red Corner MMA shows Usman speaking to him in Russian, then slapping him in the face before a brawl breaks out. Before the slap he says, in Uncrowned's translation, "I have a question for you."

What Dvalishvili says

His own video showed blood running from a cut to his head and, according to Uncrowned, his left eye nearly swollen shut. Medics were treating him. The friend with him had bruising on his face, Uncrowned reported. His caption on X read:

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

He also named Umar Nurmagomedov, Usman's older brother, as one of the attackers, according to SB Nation. That is his allegation; descriptions of the footage name only Usman and his group. He insisted he was fine: "I'm a fighter. This is nothing for me."

Police, but no charges

Ariel Helwani reported on X on Wednesday that everyone involved, Dvalishvili and his friend included, was taken to a police station for questioning. "My understanding is that Merab isn't the one pressing charges, but the incident happened in public and was caught on camera so everyone was brought in," he wrote.

Ilia Topuria, who posted and then deleted an early clip, wrote that Usman "has reportedly been detained." Uncrowned could not verify that. No police statement has been made public, and nobody has been reported charged.

Neither Usman nor Umar had responded publicly by Wednesday evening. RAF did not answer The National's request for comment, and no UFC statement has been reported. Islam Makhachev defended Usman on Instagram. In MMA Mania's translation, he wrote: "What happened today was started by Merab in his own homeland when he took it upon himself to hit a guest and insult his mother."

The history

The feud goes back to UFC 311 in January 2025, when Dvalishvili beat Umar by unanimous decision to keep the title. He closed that night as a +215 underdog, about a 30% chance, while Umar was the −273 favourite.

The Makhachev post points to July 2026, before RAF Georgia in Tbilisi. There, Dvalishvili slapped Umar's friend Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov and a large brawl followed. Accounts differ, MMA Mania notes. Dvalishvili says Gadzhimagomedov grabbed his neck first, while Arman Tsarukyan says Gadzhimagomedov was hit while still talking.

Dvalishvili, 35, is 21-6 and has lost twice in a row to Petr Yan. He lost the belt at UFC 323 last December as a −417 favourite, then the trilogy at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 24.

Usman, 28, is 22-0 with one no-contest and has held both the Bellator and PFL lightweight titles. His exclusive negotiating window with the PFL closed in late October, Agent MMA reported, and the UFC is widely expected to sign him. His manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has since said the PFL's exclusive period is still in effect, according to MiddleEasy.

What comes next

RAF Abu Dhabi is on Saturday, November 14, at Etihad Arena, with Khamzat Chimaev against Chris Weidman on top. Dvalishvili is booked to wrestle Marlon Moraes, and Umar faces Urijah Faber on the same card. RAF had announced no changes as of Wednesday, and it is unclear whether Dvalishvili's injuries will keep him out.

Helwani also asked: "Will the UFC still sign Usman after something like this?" Usman isn't under UFC contract, so the question is whether the UFC signs him, not whether it punishes him. The UFC's record here points both ways. It released Thiago Silva after his arrest in February 2014, according to SI. But Conor McGregor was arrested and charged for attacking a bus carrying Khabib Nurmagomedov during UFC 223 fight week in April 2018. The UFC did not formally discipline him, according to Wikipedia.