Ali Abdulaziz, the manager of Usman Nurmagomedov, has publicly apologized to the city of Abu Dhabi and its leadership over the brawl involving his fighter and Merab. He called the incident shameful and unacceptable, said both sides were wrong, and promised it will never happen again. Abdulaziz said the clash was tied to Usman defending his brother, and that he is more concerned about Usman's state of mind than his fighting career. He also urged an end to videos circulating from Georgia and Dagestan and called for peace between the sides.
Ali Abdulaziz, the manager of Usman Nurmagomedov, has issued a public apology to the city of Abu Dhabi and its leadership after a brawl involving his fighter and Merab. Abdulaziz described the incident as shameful and unacceptable, acknowledged that both sides were in the wrong, and promised nothing like it will happen again.
According to Abdulaziz, the clash was tied to Usman defending his brother. He said his greater concern is Usman's state of mind rather than the fighter's career in the cage. He also called for an end to the videos circulating from Georgia and Dagestan, and urged both camps to seek peace.
Usman Nurmagomedov's profile
Nurmagomedov is 22-0, ranked 14th on the AgentMMA pound-for-pound list. The 27-year-old from Russia stands five-foot-eleven (180 cm) with a 71-inch reach, also 180 cm.
His numbers point to an efficient rather than high-volume striker. He lands 0.33 significant strikes per minute, but connects at an accuracy of 52.78 percent, meaning just over half of his significant strikes find their target. He averages 0.65 takedowns per 15 minutes and has recorded no submission attempts per 15 minutes in his statistical profile.
Why it matters
- Abdulaziz's statement is a direct attempt to de-escalate. By admitting fault on both sides and appealing for peace, he is trying to calm tensions before they spread further.
- The call to stop sharing videos from Georgia and Dagestan suggests the dispute has spilled beyond the original confrontation and into wider online circulation.
- Abdulaziz's emphasis on Usman's state of mind over his fighting career signals that the fallout is being treated as a personal matter first and a competitive one second.
The apology does not detail what disciplinary or promotional consequences, if any, may follow from the brawl. Abdulaziz's remarks focus on contrition and on cooling the situation rather than on the sporting future of either fighter.
For a fighter who has not lost in 22 professional bouts, the episode is an unusual off-the-mat headline. His manager's message makes clear the camp wants it to end there.
