Topuria just posted the lobby video of Merab getting jumped, and he went straight at Usman š¤ Merab says he was in the middle of an RAF interview in an Abu Dhabi hotel lobby when Usman Nurmagomedov and a group came up behind him. Topuria, one of his closest friends, shared the footage and called them cowards who will be āheld accountable.ā Merab is still booked to wrestle Marlon Moraes at RAF Abu Dhabi this Saturday. The Nurmagomedov camp hasnāt responded yet. Where does this go from here? š„ @Topuriailia on X #iliatopuria #merabdvalishvili #usmannurmagomedov
Ilia Topuria has publicly blamed Usman Nurmagomedov's camp after sharing lobby footage that shows Merab Dvalishvili being approached from behind in an Abu Dhabi hotel. Topuria posted the video on X and called those involved cowards who will be "held accountable."
According to Dvalishvili's account, he was in the middle of an interview with RAF when Nurmagomedov and a group of people came up behind him. Topuria, described as one of Dvalishvili's closest friends, went straight at Nurmagomedov in his reaction. The Nurmagomedov camp has not yet responded.
Dvalishvili is still booked to wrestle Marlon Moraes at RAF Abu Dhabi this Saturday.
The fighters
Topuria, 29, is 17-1-0 and ranked number one at lightweight and number one pound-for-pound. The Spaniard fights out of Climent Club and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. His most recent recorded fight was a fourth-round TKO loss to Justin Gaethje in a title fight at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, 2026. Before that, he stopped Charles Oliveira in the first round at UFC 317 in June 2025.
Dvalishvili, 35, is 21-6-0 and holds the number one bantamweight ranking and the number two pound-for-pound spot. The Georgian trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team and averages 5.74 takedowns per 15 minutes, a rate that stands well clear of his striking output of 4.48 significant strikes per minute. 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 five-round loss to Yan, following UFC 323 in December 2025.
Nurmagomedov, 27, is unbeaten at 22-0-0 and ranked 14th pound-for-pound. The Russian stands five-foot-eleven with a 71-inch reach, three inches taller than Dvalishvili and Topuria's five-foot-seven and five-foot-six frames respectively.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's Saturday appearance at RAF Abu Dhabi, a grappling-style bout against Moraes, now carries an unexpected off-the-mat storyline.
- Topuria's public accusation puts one of the sport's top pound-for-pound names in open conflict with a Nurmagomedov-camp fighter who remains undefeated.
- The Nurmagomedov side has yet to give its version of events, so details of the incident remain one-sided for now.
