Merab Dvalishvili, Usman Nurmagomedov Involved in Massive Brawl in Abu Dhabi

Posted : 12 November 2026

Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and PFL lightweight titleholder Usman Nurmagomedov were involved in a violent confrontation in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, November 11, following a reported altercation between members of their respective teams.

Footage circulating on social media appeared to show Nurmagomedov approaching the Georgian fighter from behind before striking him in the face. The incident quickly escalated into a physical confrontation involving several individuals from both camps inside a hotel lobby.

Dvalishvili, 35, later shared a video showing his bloodied face while receiving medical attention. The former UFC champion accused Nurmagomedov and his associates of launching a surprise attack while he was conducting an interview ahead of the Real American Freestyle (RAF) event.

The Georgian criticised the Russian fighter and his companions, questioning their conduct and insisting that any disagreement should have been settled through a proper one-on-one confrontation rather than a group attack.

Dvalishvili is scheduled to compete at RAF Abu Dhabi on Saturday, November 14, where he is expected to face Brazilian fighter Marlon Moraes. Despite the incident, reports indicate that his participation remains on the schedule.

The confrontation appears to be connected to an ongoing rivalry involving the Nurmagomedov camp. Dvalishvili previously faced Usman's older brother, Umar Nurmagomedov, in January 2025, defeating him by unanimous decision to retain his UFC bantamweight championship.

Tensions between the fighters' associates reportedly continued in the months that followed, with another confrontation taking place ahead of a previous RAF event in July.

Umar is also scheduled to compete at Saturday's event, where he will face former UFC fighter Urijah Faber. However, Usman is not listed among the competitors.

The latest incident attracted reactions from several prominent figures in mixed martial arts, including UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who suggested that previous disagreements involving Dvalishvili and members of the Dagestani wrestling community contributed to the confrontation.

Makhachev questioned why Dvalishvili had not faced criticism over an earlier incident involving a Dagestani wrestler, arguing that the Georgian had contributed to the tensions before Wednesday's events.

Meanwhile, former two-division UFC champion Ilia Topuria, who is a close friend of Dvalishvili, condemned the alleged attack after sharing footage of the incident on social media.

Topuria described the behaviour of those involved as unacceptable and emphasised that respect, humility and honour should be demonstrated through actions rather than words. He also claimed that Nurmagomedov and some of his associates had been detained following the incident.

Reports subsequently indicated that those involved, including Dvalishvili, were taken for questioning by local authorities. However, there was no immediate official confirmation of the reported detentions.

Nurmagomedov, 28, remains one of the leading names in the lightweight division. The Russian fighter previously held the Bellator and PFL lightweight championships and is currently a free agent following his latest PFL appearance.

He has been strongly linked with a potential move to the UFC, but the Abu Dhabi confrontation could attract unwanted attention as discussions surrounding his future continue.

With both camps expected to remain in Abu Dhabi for the RAF event, attention will now turn to whether the dispute has any impact on Saturday's fights and the fighters' respective careers.

Merab Dvalishvili, Usman Nurmagomedov Involved in Massive Brawl in Abu Dhabi

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