Dvalishvili accuses Usman and Umar Nurmagomedov of ambushing him in Abu Dhabi hotel lobby

Merab Dvalishvili has accused Usman Nurmagomedov, Umar Nurmagomedov and a group of associates of attacking him and a friend in a hotel lobby in Abu Dhabi on November 11, 2026, ahead of his scheduled wrestling match at RAF Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena on November 14.

Dvalishvili described the incident in a video and accompanying social media post, alleging the group approached from behind while he was conducting an interview. “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,” he wrote. “Security was holding me — they kept kicking us when we were down like losers.”

In the video itself, Dvalishvili expanded on the allegation. “What a sneaky way, just two of us, me and my friend came here in Abu Dhabi, and Usman Nurmagomedov and his friends came like snakes from behind,” he said. “What kind of fighters you guys are? What kind of man does this? If you want to talk and fight, let’s do it the real way.”

Dvalishvili specifically named Umar Nurmagomedov as a participant. “I just came here in Abu Dhabi and then Usman, Umar, and his friends came in a sneaky way and tried to beat us. So many guys,” he said.

The accusation carries a pointed backstory. Dvalishvili defeated Umar Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision to claim the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 311 in January 2025, a result that made him champion and left Umar without the belt he had previously held.

Despite the alleged altercation, Dvalishvili insisted he was unharmed. “I’m fine. All my friends and family, I’m f***ing fine, I’m a fighter. This is nothing for me. Again, it shows what kind of people you guys are,” he said.

Dvalishvili is due to face Marlon Moraes in a wrestling match at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on November 14. There has been no public response from Usman or Umar Nurmagomedov at the time of publication.