Islam Makhachev goes rogue and details exactly why Usman Nurmagomedov jumped Merab Dvalishvili
Islam Makhachev has leapt to the defence of Usman Nurmagomedov as he revealed the real reason behind his shocking sneak attack on Merab Dvalishvili.
On Wednesday, shocking footage emerged of Nurmagomedov, cousin of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib, jumping former UFC bantamweight champion Dvalishvili while he gave an interview ahead of his RAF freestyle wrestling contest against Marlon Moraes in Abu Dhabi.
Nurmagomedov and his crew set up on Dvalishvili and his friend and tried to fight back while heavily outnumbered in the lobby of the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island hotel.
Islam Makhachev explains exactly why Usman Nurmagomedov went after Merab Dvalishvili
Ilia Topuria released the footage on social media and called Nurmagomedov and his entourage "cowards", with a bloodied Dvalishvili sharing an update on his injuries on social media.
Several UFC fighters condemned the actions of Nurmagomedov, who is said to be on the cusp of signing with the promotion after a period of free agency.
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However, UFC welterweight Makhachev defended his fellow Dagestanis and claimed that Nurmagomedov's assault was revenge for a previous incident involving Merab and one of his compatriots.
On Instagram stories, he wrote: “To those who are now condemning Usman and the guys, [and] they are writing insults to them, why were you silent when Merab hit a Dagestani wrestler for nothing and hurt his honour. The man approached him to talk without malice.
“Merab started what happened today in his homeland by allowing himself to hit a guest and insult his mother.”
The incident in question saw Merab slap Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov, an associate of his former opponent, Umar Nurmagomedov, backstage at RAF Georgia in July.
Nina Drama calls for Usman Nurmagomedov to be banned from UFC after attack
Merab claimed Gadzhimagomedov grabbed him around the neck and started shouting at him in Russian, leading to him slapping and an altercation ensuing.
It came after he rejected suggestions of him facing in Umar in a wrestling contest after beating him in January 2025.
The rivalry began with Umar but has now involved his brother Usman and many other members of the Dagestani fighting personnel.
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Nina Drama, the UFC content creator who has a close relationship with Merab, called for Nurmagomedov and "his friends" to be banned from stepping foot inside the UFC after watching the attack.
On X, she wrote: "Merab Dvalishvili is like a brother to me. Seeing that video of him getting attacked made me sick to my stomach. Those cowards must pay for what they did. A premeditated attack, with their phones already filming. A bunch of degenerates.
"The UFC banned Dillon Danis after HE got attacked, jumped by 20 guys when it was just him and his brother and they did nothing to them? I really hope the UFC bans Usman Nurmagomedov and his friends from ever stepping foot in inside the UFC. He tried to elbow Song after he jumped the cage… Just because he has the last name doesn’t make him above anyone else.”
In a second post, the streamer stressed that the two incidents were "not the same" and called people "dumb" if they believed they were on par.
She added: "People who can’t differentiate Merab’s altercation in Georgia vs the attack that happened today are seriously dumb af. One-on-one is not the same as getting jumped by multiple men. When Merab slapped that man in Georgia NOT one Georgian man attacked the Dagestani man. Violence is never the answer… but don’t conflate both incidents… they are not the same!"
In an update, MMA journalist Ariel Helwani has claimed that all those involved in the melee have been taken to the police station for questioning.
Dvalishvili is due to fight on Saturday, though RAF have yet to comment on this status.
Topics: UFC
Josh Lawless
