Ten people arrested after brawl that left Former UFC champion a bloody mess
A heated rivalry between two prominent MMA families turned physical on Wednesday, November 11, when former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili was involved in a violent altercation with Usman Nurmagomedov and several members of his entourage in Abu Dhabi.
Video footage circulating on social media shows Nurmagomedov approaching Dvalishvili during an interview before striking him. The confrontation quickly escalated into a chaotic brawl involving multiple people, with security attempting to separate those involved.
Dvalishvili later appeared on social media with blood on his face, accusing Nurmagomedov and his associates of attacking him and a friend.
Abu Dhabi Police say they arrested ten people after the brawl, eight who were involved in the fight and two people who recorded the incident.
Video Captures Chaotic Confrontation
The incident occurred inside a hotel lobby during promotional activities for an upcoming Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling event.
The video shows the confrontation escalating as several individuals exchange blows. At one point, people can be seen falling to the ground while others attempt to intervene.
Dvalishvili claimed the confrontation was a coordinated attack involving a significantly larger group.
“What a sneaky way, guys,” Dvalishvili said in a video following the incident.
He accused Nurmagomedov and his associates of approaching from behind while he and a friend were conducting an interview.
Dvalishvili also alleged that members of the group continued striking them after they had fallen to the ground.
The former UFC champion insisted he was doing fine despite his visible injuries.
Longstanding Rivalry Reaches New Level
The confrontation adds another chapter to an ongoing feud involving Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov family.
Dvalishvili previously defeated Usman’s older brother, Umar Nurmagomedov, by unanimous decision at UFC 311 in January 2025, successfully defending his bantamweight championship.
Their rivalry has continued outside the Octagon, with tensions resurfacing in recent months.
Usman Nurmagomedov, a former Bellator and PFL lightweight champion, is also the cousin of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The undefeated fighter has been linked to a potential move to the UFC following his departure from the PFL.
Former UFC champion Ilia Topuria also shared footage of the altercation and publicly criticized those involved. Topuria subsequently claimed Usman had been detained, although that report has not been independently confirmed.
MMA Community Reacts as RAF Event Approaches
The footage quickly generated reactions across the MMA community.
UFC fighters Brandon Royval and Alexander Hernandez were among those criticizing the confrontation, questioning why multiple individuals appeared to target Dvalishvili and his companion.
Meanwhile, Dvalishvili is scheduled to face former UFC title challenger Marlon Moraes in a wrestling match at RAF Abu Dhabi on Saturday, November 14.
Umar Nurmagomedov is also scheduled to compete at the event against UFC veteran Urijah Faber.
Despite the altercation, Dvalishvili indicated he was prepared to move forward.
It remains unclear whether the incident will result in disciplinary action or affect Saturday’s scheduled matches.
Image embed via Instagram @rafatheroadrunner
