MMA fighters, including former UFC champ, get into wild melee at Abu Dhabi hotel lobby

Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili says Usman Nurmagomedov and several others attacked him in a hotel lobby in Abu Dhabi. The incident, captured in a video Dvalishvili posted, left him bloodied and has reignited tensions linked to his past rivalry with Usman’s brother, Umar.

Dvalishvili said he was recording an interview for Real American Freestyle when the group approached from behind and struck him and a friend; he accused them of kicking the pair while they were down. At least six people were reportedly involved. Dvalishvili beat Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January 2025, and was in Abu Dhabi ahead of a scheduled RAF bout with Marlon Moraes; Usman is the PFL lightweight champion.