A violent incident has shaken the mixed martial arts (MMA) world after former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov were involved in a physical altercation on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi.
The incident was filmed, and footage quickly circulated on social media. In the published videos, Nurmagomedov is seen approaching the Georgian fighter from behind and slapping him in the face. Following this action, Dvalishvili attempts to respond, while the situation escalates with the involvement of several members of both camps.
Dvalishvili, who is in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Real American Freestyle event, scheduled for Saturday, later posted a video showing him with a bloodied face. In his reaction, he described Nurmagomedov and his people as “snakes.”
“What a sneaky way, guys! What kind of fighters are you? What kind of man does this? If you want to try, come on, let’s do it properly,” the Georgian said.
The clash comes amid a long-running rivalry between Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov camp. Merab defeated Usman’s brother, Umar Nurmagomedov, in January 2025, in a duel for the UFC title. Tensions between the two camps had also surfaced in July, during another RAF event in Georgia.
