MMA Fighters Clash in Abu Dhabi Hotel Lobby Ahead of Upcoming Event
Altercation Between Merab Dvalishvili and Usman Nurmagomedov
In the videos, Usman is seen approaching the Georgian fighter Merab from behind and slapping him across the face. Usman is the younger brother of Umar Nurmagomedov, who is a former rival of Merab. Merab arrived in Abu Dhabi to participate in the Real American Freestyle (RAF) event taking place on Saturday.
Following the incident, Merab shared a video on Instagram showing his face covered in blood. Former UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, who is friends with Merab, also posted a clip of the confrontation.
After the initial slap, Merab attempted to confront Usman, leading to a brawl involving several individuals accompanying both fighters. At least six people were reported to be involved in the scuffle.
Merab claimed that while he was conducting an interview in the hotel lobby, he and a young friend were attacked. He posted a video on Instagram while receiving treatment, stating that during the interview, Usman and his associates approached from behind and began punching them. According to Merab, even when security personnel restrained them, the opposing group continued to kick them.
In another video that surfaced after the incident, Merab referred to Usman and his team as 'snakes.' He criticized their method of attack, labeling it as deceitful and challenged them to confront him directly if they wanted to fight.
This incident marks a new chapter in the ongoing rivalry between Merab and the Nurmagomedov family. Prior to defeating Umar in January 2025, Merab had labeled him as unruly and accused him of disrespectful behavior.
Earlier in July, a minor altercation had also occurred between the two sides during another RAF event held in Georgia.
Both Merab and Umar are set to compete in the upcoming RAF event on Saturday. Merab will face former UFC title challenger Marlon Moraes, while Umar is scheduled to wrestle against former UFC champion Urijah Faber.