Major Usman Nurmagomedov update given as reason behind attack on Merab Dvalishvili emerges
Ilia Topuria has claimed Usman Nurmagomedov has been arrested for his sneak attack on Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi as he shared sickening alternative footage.
On Wednesday, Topuria released footage of his compatriot Dvalishvili being on the receiving end of an attack from Nurmagomedov and his crew.
Dvalishvili, the former UFC bantamweight champion, is in Abu Dhabi for an RAF freestyle wrestling contest against Marlon Moraes.
But he was embroiled in a wild brawl in a hotel lobby while giving an interview for the promotion.
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Nurmagomedov interrupted the interview and hit Dvalishvili, with his entourage setting upon the Georgian and his friend as all hell broke lose.
Ilia Topuria issues second statement as Ariel Helwani gives update on Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili
Dvalishvili posted a video of he and his friend receiving treatment after the incident, writing: "Was doing an interview for RAF in hotel lobby and Usman and his buddies came up from behind and started punching me and my young friend. Security was holding me - They kept kicking us when we were down like losers."
When the footage dropped, Dvalishvili, who was left blooded and bruised, posted a second reaction on Instagram praised his friend for taking on the Dagestani fighters despite being an amateur wrestler and heavily outnumbered.
Security tried to intervene as punches and kicks were thrown. In a second post on the incident, Topuria branded Nurmagomedov and his crew "absolute cowards" and a "disgrace" as he claimed the 28-year-old has been detained.
He wrote: "Usman has reportedly been detained, along with the cowards who were with him.
"And these are the same people who dare to preach about humility and respect? What a disgrace. A bunch of absolute cowards.
"I always thought you were a bunch of mediocre individuals. Now you’ve removed every last doubt.
"Honor, respect, and humility aren’t words you preach. They’re values you live by. And you’ve shown none of them."
The former two-weight UFC champion quote-tweeted a different angle of the melee, with the first blow from Nurmagomedov coming in at a sickening impact.
According to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, "everyone involved in the Merab Dvalishvili/Usman Nurmagomedov altercation, including Merab and his friend, are at the police station for questioning".
Helwani states that Merab is not pressing charges but all those involved have been brought to the station because the fight happened in public and was caught on camera.
Islam Makhachev reveals real reason behind shocking Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili incident
There have been strong rumours that undefeated Nurmagomedov is to follow his family in signing with the UFC but he wondered whether Dana White's promotion might pull the plug after seeing the chaos.
The dislike between the two appears to date back to when Dvalishvili beat Umar Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision to defend the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 311 in January 2025.
UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev leapt to the defence of his fellow Dagestanis and claimed there was a previous incident which sparked the brawl.
On Instagram stories, he wrote: “To those who are now condemning Usman and the guys, writing insults to them, why were you silent when Merab hit a Dagestani wrestler and insulted him?
“The man approached to talk to him without any evil intention. What happened today, Merab started in his homeland, allowing himself to hit a guest and insult his mother.”
Topics: UFC
Josh Lawless
