Merab Dvalishvili says Usman Nurmagomedov’s crew jumped him in Abu Dhabi 😳 Merab posted these himself, bleeding in a hotel hallway. He says he was doing an interview for RAF in the lobby when Usman and his friends came up from behind. He says it was just him and one friend against a big group. He’s also booked to wrestle Marlon Moraes at RAF Abu Dhabi on Saturday, and his left eye is swollen almost shut. The Nurmagomedov camp hasn’t said anything yet. Does this end up inside a cage one day? 🎥 @merab.dvalishvili #merabdvalishvili #usmannurmagomedov #raf
Merab Dvalishvili says he was ambushed by Usman Nurmagomedov and a group of associates in an Abu Dhabi hotel this week, publishing footage of himself bleeding in a hallway. The Nurmagomedov camp has not responded publicly.
Dvalishvili, who posted the material himself, says he was doing an interview for RAF in the hotel lobby when Nurmagomedov and friends approached from behind. He says it was just him and one friend against a much larger group. His left eye is reportedly swollen almost shut. None of his account has been independently verified, and the Nurmagomedov side has said nothing so far.
The timing is awkward. Dvalishvili is booked to wrestle Marlon Moraes at RAF Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Dvalishvili's situation
Dvalishvili, 35, is a Georgian bantamweight who trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team. He is 21-6 and ranked number one in his division and number two pound for pound. His most recent recorded fight came on October 24, 2026, when he lost a unanimous decision to Petr Yan in a title fight at UFC 333. That was the second straight five-round decision loss to Yan, following UFC 323 in December 2025. Before that he beat Cory Sandhagen by unanimous decision at UFC 320.
His statistical profile is built on wrestling. He averages 5.74 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 4.48 significant strikes landed per minute at 41 percent accuracy.
Nurmagomedov's profile
Nurmagomedov, 27, is a Russian fighter with a perfect 22-0 record and a number 14 pound-for-pound ranking. He stands five-foot-eleven (180 cm) with a 71-inch (180 cm) reach. Compared with Dvalishvili, who is five-foot-six (168 cm) with a 68-inch (173 cm) reach, he holds a three-inch height advantage and an identical-to-slightly-shorter reach figure in centimeters. His recorded striking is low-volume, 0.33 significant strikes landed per minute at 52.78 percent accuracy, with 0.65 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's availability for Saturday's RAF Abu Dhabi bout against Moraes may be in question given the swelling he describes.
- The two fighters sit in different spots in the sport's hierarchy: Dvalishvili at the top of the bantamweight division, Nurmagomedov unbeaten and ranked 14th pound for pound.
- There is an eight-year age gap, 35 against 27, and a clear difference in output between a high-volume wrestler and a low-volume striker, which would shape any future matchup.
The footage and the allegations will draw scrutiny until the Nurmagomedov camp responds or further evidence emerges.
