Merab Dvalishvili and a 21-year-old wrestler who was with him have spoken about a fight involving Usman Nurmagomedov and Umar Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili says the young wrestler fought both brothers and came away with only a minor mark on his face. Dvalishvili has also given his own account of how the altercation unfolded.
Merab Dvalishvili has given his version of an altercation involving Usman Nurmagomedov and Umar Nurmagomedov, saying a 21-year-old wrestler who was with him fought both brothers and walked away with only a minor mark on his face.
Dvalishvili and the young wrestler have both spoken about the incident, and the bantamweight contender has offered his own account of how the confrontation unfolded. The story is told from Dvalishvili's side, and the Nurmagomedov camp's version is not part of the report.
The fighters involved
Dvalishvili, 35, is the division's top-ranked bantamweight and sits second in the pound-for-pound rankings. The Georgian, who trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team, is 21-6 and has built his career on relentless wrestling, averaging 5.74 takedowns per 15 minutes. His most recent recorded fight was a unanimous decision loss to Petr Yan in a title bout at UFC 333 on October 24, 2026. It was his second straight defeat to Yan, following their December 2025 meeting at UFC 323.
Umar Nurmagomedov, 30, is the fourth-ranked bantamweight and carries a 20-2 record for Eagles MMA. He is also coming off a loss: his most recent recorded fight was a second-round TKO defeat to Song Yadong on August 29, 2026. He lands 3.76 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy. Usman Nurmagomedov, 27, is unbeaten at 22-0 and ranked 14th pound for pound.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov have a competitive history. Dvalishvili won a unanimous five-round decision at UFC 311 in January 2025.
- Both men are coming off defeats and are tied to the bantamweight title picture, so off-cage friction adds a layer to any future matchup.
- The age gap is notable: Dvalishvili is five years older than Umar and eight older than Usman, while the young wrestler at the center of the story is 21.
No official comment from the Nurmagomedov side is part of the report, and the full circumstances of the altercation remain Dvalishvili's account alone.
