# UFC star Merab Dvalishvili attacked by Usman Nurmagomedov in wild Abu Dhabi scene

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/ufc-star-merab-dvalishvili-attacked-by-usman-nurmagomedov-in-wild-abu-dhabi-scene/
- Published: 2026-11-12T13:35:44+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T14:40:17+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/12/sports/ufc-star-merab-dvalishvili-attacked-by-usman-nurmagomedov-in-wild-abu-dhabi-scene/
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Dvalishvili says a group led by Usman Nurmagomedov attacked him in Abu Dhabi.
- He says the confrontation began while he was being interviewed in a hotel lobby.
- The incident follows his 2025 win over Nurmagomedov’s brother, Umar.

## Summary

Former UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili says he was attacked in a hotel lobby in Abu Dhabi by a group led by fellow MMA fighter Usman Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili’s account matters because the alleged assault brings a long-running rivalry between their camps into a public confrontation outside the octagon.

Dvalishvili said he was being interviewed for the Real American Freestyle wrestling league when the group approached him and a friend from behind and began punching them. He alleged that security restrained him while the group continued kicking them; video of the confrontation had 3.1 million views by Thursday morning. The camps have a history: Dvalishvili beat Usman’s brother, Umar Nurmagomedov, by unanimous decision at UFC 311 in January 2025, and neither UFC nor RAF had commented on the incident by Thursday.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.