Merab Dvalishvili says he was attacked during Abu Dhabi interview
The former UFC bantamweight champion said Usman Nurmagomedov and others struck him and a friend at a hotel lobby. His scheduled RAF bout with Marlon Moraes may be affected.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili said he and a friend were attacked during an interview for Real American Freestyle (RAF) in a hotel lobby in Abu Dhabi on 11 November. He accused Usman Nurmagomedov and others of striking them; Dvalishvili is scheduled to wrestle Marlon Moraes at RAF’s Abu Dhabi event on Saturday.
- Dvalishvili said a group approached from behind during his interview and attacked him and his friend.
- Reports described footage of a confrontation and showed Dvalishvili with a cut to his head; he later said he was fine.
- Whether his injuries will affect his scheduled match with Moraes remains unclear.
What happened during the Abu Dhabi interview
The National reported that video posted by UFC fighter Ilia Topuria, then deleted, showed Dvalishvili speaking to camera before a group approached from behind. The report said Dvalishvili turned to face Nurmagomedov, who struck him, and a melee followed. CBS Sports also described footage uploaded by Topuria. It quoted Topuria condemning the incident, while a separate clip posted by the account ACD MMA on 11 November was described as including a slap omitted from an earlier edit.
Dvalishvili said in a social-media caption quoted by The National that he and his young friend were approached from behind and punched. He alleged security held him while people continued kicking them when they were down. CBS Sports reported that Dvalishvili posted a video as medical professionals attended to him; it described both men as visibly bloodied and bruised. The National reported at least one cut to Dvalishvili’s head.
In the video, Dvalishvili said he was fine and challenged the alleged attackers’ conduct. That was his own account, rather than a medical assessment. The reports do not establish the full sequence of events or identify everyone involved. The National said RAF had been contacted for comment.
What the incident could mean for Dvalishvili’s RAF match
Dvalishvili is due to face Marlon Moraes on Saturday at RAF’s first card in the Middle East, scheduled for Etihad Arena. The National said it was unclear whether his injuries would prevent him from wrestling. Umar Nurmagomedov is also scheduled to compete, against Urijah Faber; Usman Nurmagomedov is not on the card, according to The National.
The incident comes amid a public rivalry between Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov. CBS Sports said tensions dated to their January 2025 fight, when Dvalishvili, then UFC bantamweight champion, defeated Umar by unanimous decision to defend his title. Dvalishvili had also recently lost by unanimous decision to Petr Yan at UFC 333, where Yan retained the bantamweight title, The National reported.
Neither report includes a response from Usman Nurmagomedov or the other people Dvalishvili accused. The effect of the incident on Saturday’s match was not yet clear.
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What this story rests on
2 sources from 2 organisations: 2 news outlets.
- 1Merab Dvalishvili left bloodied after attack by Usman Nurmagomedov during hotel interview in Abu DhabiThe National · thenationalnews.comNews outlet
- 2Video shows Merab Dvalishvili attacked by Usman Nurmagomedov and others at RAF event in Abu DhabiCBS Sports · cbssports.comNews outlet
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.
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