A UFC rivalry appears to have been rekindled in Abu Dhabi this week ahead of an MMA event scheduled there this weekend.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili was jumped by MMA free agent Usman Nurmagomedov, the younger brother of Dvalishvili’s former opponent, Umar Nurmagomedov, in a hotel lobby overseas.
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Dvalishvili was recording an interview for Real American Freestyle when Usman Nurmagomedov and others approached behind him. Usman Nurmagomedov then slapped him across the face, and all hell broke loose.
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Merab Dvalishvili fights Sean O’Malley in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 316 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on June 7, 2025. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
At least six people were involved in the ruckus that left Dvalishvili bloodied.
“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 captioned an Instagram video of himself getting treatment.
“What a sneaky way, just two of us, me and my friend came here in Abu Dhabi, and Usman Nurmagomedov and his friends came like snakes from behind,” Dvalishvili said in the post. “What kind of fighters you guys are? What kind of man does this? If you want to talk and fight, let’s do it the real way. You guys came from f—ing – just because there’s two of us, and you guys were prepared. What the f—?”
Merab Dvalishvili fights Sean O’Malley in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 316 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on June 7, 2025. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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“We bleed, we fight, we war, but you guys are just sneaky guys,” Dvalishvili continued. “You guys aren’t real men. This shows your guys’ character, shows you guys are not real men. What the f—, guys? If you want to fight, fight. Let’s f—ing fight. We are fighters. I talk, I’m a real guy, I talk straight, but you guys came from behind. I don’t know how many guys you was. All your friends, waiting for us in a sneaky way. Wow, bro. Wow. I knew what kind of guys you are. I just came here in Abu Dhabi and then Usman, Umar, and his friends came in a sneaky way and tried to beat us. So many guys.”
Dvalishvili defeated Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January 2025, where he defended the bantamweight title, which he eventually lost to Petr Yan the following December. He had a rematch against Yan on Oct. 24, 2026 for the title but lost. Both fights were by unanimous decision. Dvalishvili won the title at UFC 306 against Sean O’Malley and defended it against him at UFC 316 with President Donald Trump in attendance.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship, attend the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 316 event, bout between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (REUTERS/Nathan Howard)
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Dvalishvili’s last fight against Yan was in Abu Dhabi, but he is staying there because he is due to fight Marlon Moraes at this Saturday’s RAF event.
Usman Nurmagomedov is currently the Professional Fighters League lightweight champion. The Nurmagomedovs are first cousins of former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who has coached current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.