Merab Dvalishvili and Usman Nurmagomedov clash at Abu Dhabi hotel
UFC bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili and PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov were involved in a physical altercation at a hotel in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, prompting a brief melee between members of their camps.
Merab Dvalishvili, a former UFC bantamweight champion, and Usman Nurmagomedov, the PFL lightweight champion, were filmed in a physical confrontation at a hotel in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Video posted by Dvalishvili showed his face after the incident, while other footage captured Nurmagomedov approaching Dvalishvili from behind and striking him.
Former UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, a friend of Dvalishvili, shared additional video that showed Dvalishvili attempting to retaliate, after which several members of both fighters' camps became involved. In a follow-up video, Dvalishvili referred to Nurmagomedov and his team as "snakes" and said, "What a sneaky way, guys. What kind of fighters you guys are? What kind of man does this? If you want to try, let's do it the real way."
The incident is part of an ongoing rivalry that dates back to a January 2025 bout in which Dvalishvili defeated Umar Nurmagomedov, Usman's older brother. The two camps previously had a brief clash at a Real American Freestyle (RAF) event in Georgia in July.
Both fighters are slated to compete at the RAF event on Saturday. Dvalishvili will face former UFC title challenger Marlon Moraes, while Nurmagomedov is scheduled to wrestle former UFC champion Urijah Faber. Nurmagomedov remains a restricted free agent, with speculation about a possible move to the UFC in 2027.