MERAB DVALISHVILI was left bloodied after a violent hotel confrontation involving Usman Nurmagomedov and several other men, with footage of the incident quickly spreading online.
The former UFC bantamweight champion was in Abu Dhabi preparing for his Real American Freestyle appearance against Marlon Moraes when the altercation reportedly erupted in a hotel lobby.
Video shows Dvalishvili recording an interview before a group of men approach him and another individual. A confrontation quickly develops, with punches thrown as several people become involved.
Dvalishvili later posted footage showing his badly bruised and bloodied face while explaining what happened. He claimed Nurmagomedov and his associates attacked him from behind and continued striking while security personnel restrained him.
The Georgian expressed anger over the alleged ambush, questioning why the group confronted him with such overwhelming numbers rather than approaching him directly.
Nurmagomedov and his representatives have yet to publicly comment on the incident. Reports suggest the Russian fighter was detained by Abu Dhabi police following the confrontation, with potential legal consequences also raising questions about his future UFC prospects.
The clash adds another chapter to Dvalishvili’s ongoing rivalry with the Nurmagomedov camp. Merab previously defeated Usman’s brother Umar by unanimous decision in January 2025 after months of heated exchanges.
Despite the incident, Dvalishvili is still expected to compete against Marlon Moraes this weekend at the RAF event in Abu Dhabi.
