UFC fighter Merab Dvalishvili has accused rival Usman Nurmagomedov and his entourage of launching a surprise attack on him while he was recording an interview at a hotel in Abu Dhabi.
The Georgian-American fighter, 35, was left bloodied and bruised following the incident, which happened just days before his scheduled fight on Saturday.
Footage circulating on social media appeared to show several men approaching Dvalishvili from behind before a confrontation erupted, with punches and kicks exchanged.
Dvalishvili Ambushed While Recording Interview
Dvalishvili had previously described his preparations for the upcoming fight as a normal fight week, but the hotel incident has disrupted his build-up to the event.
According to the footage shared online, the fighter was conducting an interview when a group of men approached him from behind.
One of the men appeared to exchange a few words with Dvalishvili before punching him in the face, catching him off guard.
The fighter appeared momentarily stunned before being kicked as the confrontation escalated.
A man accompanying him attempted to hold him back, but several individuals became involved in the altercation.
Dvalishvili attempted to fight back, although the group appeared to overwhelm him.
His companion was also caught up in the confrontation before the men were eventually separated.
Dvalishvili subsequently identified Usman Nurmagomedov, his brother Umar and their associates as those responsible for the alleged attack.
Fighter Responds With Bloodied Face After Incident
Following the confrontation, Dvalishvili posted a video on social media showing him receiving treatment with visible blood and bruises.
In the video, he criticised the alleged attackers for approaching him from behind rather than confronting him directly.
“What a sneaky way guys. Just two of us, me and my friend, came here in Abu Dhabi and Usman and his friends came like snakes from behind.
What kind of fighters are you guys? What kind of man does this? If you want to fight, let’s do it the real way,” he said.
He also questioned why the group had chosen to confront him when they outnumbered him.
His companion, who was also involved in the incident, expressed similar anger, questioning why the men had approached them from behind.
Dvalishvili continued to condemn the alleged attack, insisting that he was willing to face his rivals in a proper fight.
He said he had expected such behaviour from the group but was surprised by the number of people involved.
The fighter also reassured his supporters, friends and family that he was doing well despite his injuries.
“I am fine guys. All my friends and family, I am f***ing fine. I am a fighter. This is nothing for me, but it shows what kind of people you guys are,” he added.
Dvalishvili Shares More Details About Encounter
In another social media post, Dvalishvili spoke about his younger companion, a 21-year-old wrestler from Georgia who was with him during the confrontation.
He claimed the young wrestler had also been involved in the altercation with Usman and Umar Nurmagomedov.
Dvalishvili said his companion had suffered visible facial injuries but remained involved in the confrontation despite the number of people surrounding them.
He also claimed security personnel were holding him back while members of the opposing group continued punching and kicking them.
“Oh my God bro, security was holding me, and they were kicking and punching us, and what the heck. Life is good, guys, everything is good,” he said.
Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov Brothers Have History
The incident comes amid an ongoing rivalry between Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov brothers.
Dvalishvili previously faced Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January 2025 following a heated build-up to their fight.
The Georgian-American secured a unanimous decision victory over Umar in the contest.
However, tensions between the fighters have continued over the months, with their rivalry now extending beyond their previous encounter.
Dvalishvili is scheduled to compete in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, although the hotel altercation has brought fresh attention to the tensions surrounding his fight week.
