UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, who is Georgian, says Usman Nurmagomedov, the Russian lightweight champion of the PFL, attacked him from behind on Wednesday in the lobby of a hotel in Abu Dhabi. Both fighters were in the city ahead of Saturday’s Real American Freestyle event, marking the second public clash between their camps in four months.
A Slap Caught on Camera in the Hotel Lobby
Videos circulating online show Usman Nurmagomedov approaching Merab Dvalishvili from behind and slapping him in the face inside the hotel lobby. The scene quickly turned into a wider brawl involving members of both camps, according to ESPN’s account. Dvalishvili later posted a video of his bloodied face, saying, “What a sneaky way, guys.” He added, “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.” He described Nurmagomedov and his group as “snakes.”
Topuria Speaks Out, Police Question Those Involved
Ilia Topuria, a former UFC lightweight champion and a friend of Dvalishvili, shared the footage and condemned the attack. “You’re a bunch of cowards, and you’ll be held accountable for what you’ve done,” he wrote, adding that honor, respect and humility “aren’t words you preach. They’re values you live by.” Topuria also claimed Nurmagomedov had been detained by police, a detail no authority has confirmed publicly. According to journalist Ariel Helwani, cited by NY Fights, Dvalishvili and others involved, including a man identified as Lazishvili, were taken to a police station for questioning because the incident happened in public and was filmed; Dvalishvili is not pressing charges.
Makhachev Defends Nurmagomedov
Islam Makhachev, another high-profile UFC lightweight, has publicly defended Usman Nurmagomedov. According to Sherdog, he argues that Dvalishvili is the one who started the feud between the two camps, which has increasingly split along regional lines, with Nurmagomedov’s camp describing it as personal for all of Dagestan. Dvalishvili, the reigning bantamweight champion, has defended his belt multiple times, including wins over Sean O’Malley and Cory Sandhagen, and is widely regarded as one of the division’s most durable champions.
A Rivalry That Started With a Slap in Tbilisi
Wednesday’s incident echoes an earlier flashpoint. In July, at a press conference for a Real American Freestyle event in Georgia, a fan asked Dvalishvili about a possible wrestling match with Umar Nurmagomedov, Usman’s older brother. Dvalishvili called Umar a “spoiled guy” before slapping Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov, a friend of Umar’s who had approached him. Arman Tsarukyan, who was present that day, said Dvalishvili threw the first punch and that the two men later settled things one-on-one in another room before shaking hands; it remained unclear whether words were exchanged before the slap. Umar Nurmagomedov responded in an interview with journalist Adam Zyubaraev: “He’s the one who has to live with it. But as a person, how do you live with that? You have to call wrong things wrong, no matter who does it.” Dvalishvili had beaten Umar Nurmagomedov by decision at UFC 311 in January 2025 to retain his bantamweight title.
Two Champions Still Booked for Saturday, With a UFC Move Looming
Despite the altercation, both men remain booked for Saturday in Abu Dhabi, in a discipline separate from MMA: Dvalishvili faces Marlon Moraes and Nurmagomedov faces Urijah Faber in freestyle wrestling under the Real American Freestyle banner. The same card is expected to include Khamzat Chimaev against Chris Weidman, who stepped in after Colby Covington withdrew injured. In August, PFL CEO John Martin pushed back on talk of a UFC move, saying the promotion still held an exclusive negotiating window with Nurmagomedov and was preparing its own offer. That window has since expired: Usman Nurmagomedov, undefeated in 22 professional fights with 16 finishes, became a free agent after ending his PFL contract with a first-round knockout of Archie Colgan to retain his lightweight title. Asked at a press conference whether the UFC would consider signing Usman Nurmagomedov, UFC president Dana White answered with a single word, “Sure,” without signaling that a deal was close.
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