Usman Nurmagomedov accused of attacking Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi

Merab Dvalishvili, the Georgian former UFC bantamweight champion, says he was jumped in an Abu Dhabi hotel lobby on Wednesday while filming an interview for Real American Freestyle (RAF), and he names Usman Nurmagomedov as the man who led the group. Video of the incident spread fast, and “usman nurmagomedov” became one of the most searched terms in Pakistan overnight.

What the video shows

The clip, first shared by Dvalishvili’s friend and UFC star Ilia Topuria and later deleted, shows Dvalishvili talking to a camera when a group walks up behind him. When he turns round, a punch is thrown and a brawl breaks out. The National, the Abu Dhabi newspaper, reported that Dvalishvili was left with his face covered in blood.

Accounts differ on some details. Fox News’ OutKick describes Usman striking first; outlets also give different numbers for how many people were involved.

What Dvalishvili says

In a post after the fight, Dvalishvili wrote that the group punched him and a younger friend and kept kicking them while they were on the floor, and that security held him back while it happened. He put the group at about 20 people and called the attack “sneaky”. Yahoo Sports reported that he also accused Umar Nurmagomedov, his old rival, of taking part.

The other side

As of Wednesday, neither Usman nor Umar Nurmagomedov had responded publicly, MMA Fighting reported. The National said it had asked RAF for comment. Until they speak, Dvalishvili’s account is one side of the story, and the video does not show everything that came before the punch.

Why the bad blood

Usman Nurmagomedov, a former Bellator and PFL lightweight champion, is a cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov and part of the same Dagestani camp as Umar. Dvalishvili and Umar traded insults for months before their UFC 311 title fight in January 2025, which Dvalishvili won. Pakistani fans follow the Dagestani team closely, which is part of why the clip travelled so fast here.

What happens next

Dvalishvili is still due to wrestle Marlon Moraes at RAF Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Watch for statements from RAF, the Nurmagomedov camp and Abu Dhabi police, and for whether any of those involved face action before the event.