Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has accused Usman Nurmagomedov and members of his team of assaulting him and a friend during a Real American Freestyle (RAF) media event in Abu Dhabi. The incident, which reportedly took place on November 11, 2026, was captured on video and shared by former two-division UFC champion Ilia Topuria, who condemned the attackers as "cowards" who would be held accountable.
According to journalist Ariel Helwani, all parties involved — including Dvalishvili and his friend — were detained by local authorities and remained in custody as of Thursday morning. Dvalishvili later posted a video from a medical facility showing visible injuries to both himself and his companion.
In the video, Dvalishvili described being ambushed from behind by Usman Nurmagomedov and a group of associates. "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. He questioned their character as fighters and men, emphasizing that the attack was carried out by multiple people against two individuals.
Dvalishvili elaborated in a written social media post, stating that he was conducting an interview in a hotel lobby when Usman Nurmagomedov and his group approached from behind and began punching them. He alleged that security personnel held him down while the attackers continued to kick them while they were on the ground.
Despite the injuries, Dvalishvili insisted he was fine and framed the episode as a test of character. "We were fighting like real men and you guys was fighting like pussies," he said. "We are warriors, bro."
The confrontation adds to existing tension between Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov camp. Dvalishvili defeated Umar Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision in a UFC bantamweight title defense in January 2025. Usman Nurmagomedov, a free agent recently signed to the Professional Fighters League after a stint in Bellator, has been present at recent UFC events. The Nurmagomedov brothers are cousins and students of retired UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, who famously sparked a mass brawl after submitting Conor McGregor at UFC 229.
