Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili was left bloodied following a physical altercation involving Usman Nurmagomedov and several other men at a hotel in Abu Dhabi on November 11, 2026. Video footage of the incident spread rapidly across social media, showing Nurmagomedov approaching Dvalishvili during an interview before striking him and triggering a confrontation involving multiple people.
The incident occurred ahead of the Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling event scheduled for November 14 at Etihad Arena. Dvalishvili later posted footage showing injuries to his face and accused Nurmagomedov’s group of attacking him and his friend from behind.
What Happened Between Merab Dvalishvili and Usman Nurmagomedov?
Dvalishvili was conducting an interview in a hotel lobby when Nurmagomedov approached him with several other men.
Video footage shows Nurmagomedov speaking briefly to the Georgian fighter before slapping him across the face. The confrontation quickly escalated as people from both groups became involved.
Dvalishvili’s friend and fellow fighter Saba Lazishvili was also caught in the altercation.
Security personnel attempted to separate those involved, but the confrontation continued as several people pushed and struck one another.
Dvalishvili later appeared in a social media video with blood on his face and visible injuries around his left eye. Lazishvili also appeared bruised.
The former UFC champion claimed that approximately 20 people were involved in the attack, although the exact number has not been independently established.
Merab Dvalishvili Shares Video After Hotel Brawl
Following the confrontation, Dvalishvili posted a video on Instagram while receiving medical attention.
“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. Security was holding me – they kept kicking us when we were down like losers,” Dvalishvili wrote.
He also addressed the incident in a separate video, criticizing the group for approaching him while he was occupied with an interview.
Despite his visible injuries, Dvalishvili told followers that he was recovering.
“I’m fine, guys, all my friends and family, I’m fine,” he said.
Multiple recordings of the confrontation subsequently circulated online, including footage appearing to show the initial strike and the wider altercation.
Ilia Topuria Reacts to the Viral Fight Video
Former two-division UFC champion Ilia Topuria shared footage of the confrontation on X and criticized those involved.
“You’re a bunch of cowards, and you’ll be held accountable for what you’ve done,” Topuria wrote. “You’re anything but real men.”
The Georgian-born fighter later posted another message claiming that Nurmagomedov and several others had reportedly been detained.
However, the detention claims were not independently verified at the time of reporting.
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland also condemned the incident and called for lifetime bans for those involved.
Islam Makhachev, meanwhile, publicly defended Nurmagomedov and criticized Dvalishvili’s previous conduct during his rivalry with the Nurmagomedov family.
The conflicting reactions brought additional attention to the longstanding tensions between the fighters.
Why Do Merab Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov Family Have a Rivalry?
The dispute dates back to Dvalishvili’s rivalry with Umar Nurmagomedov, Usman’s older brother.
Dvalishvili defeated Umar by unanimous decision at UFC 311 in January 2025, successfully defending his UFC bantamweight championship.
The fight followed months of disagreements and public exchanges between the two athletes.
Their rivalry continued after the bout, with further confrontations involving members of their teams.
Dvalishvili was involved in a separate altercation with an associate of Umar during an RAF event in Georgia earlier in 2026.
Usman Nurmagomedov, a former Bellator and PFL lightweight champion, has also remained closely connected to the dispute.
The 28-year-old Russian fighter is a cousin of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and has been linked with a possible move to the UFC.
Will Merab Dvalishvili Compete at RAF Abu Dhabi?
Dvalishvili is scheduled to face former UFC bantamweight title challenger Marlon Moraes in a freestyle wrestling match at RAF Abu Dhabi on November 14.
Umar Nurmagomedov is also scheduled to compete at the event against UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber.
Usman Nurmagomedov is not scheduled to participate in the wrestling competition.
The hotel confrontation has raised questions about whether Dvalishvili will be medically cleared to compete, particularly after footage showed injuries to his face.
Event organizers have not publicly confirmed any changes to the scheduled matches.
As of November 12, 2026, the viral footage continues to circulate online. Dvalishvili has said he is recovering, while the full circumstances of the confrontation and any possible disciplinary or legal consequences remain unresolved.
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