TLDR
- Usman Nurmagomedov attacked Merab Dvalishvili at an Abu Dhabi hotel, leaving the UFC champion with cuts and bruises
- Islam Makhachev defended his teammate, saying Dvalishvili started the feud by striking Dagestani wrestler Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov in July
- The tension stems from Dvalishvili’s rivalry with Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he defeated for the bantamweight title in 2025
- Daniel Cormier dismissed claims that Makhachev is avoiding Carlos Prates, saying the champion isn’t afraid of anyone
- Prates will face Michael Morales for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 on January 30, 2027, with the winner challenging Makhachev
Sources: sherdog.com | sports.yahoo.com | sportscapemagazine.com
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has defended his teammate Usman Nurmagomedov following a physical altercation with UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili at a fighter hotel in Abu Dhabi. The incident occurred on November 11, 2026, leaving Dvalishvili with cuts and bruises ahead of his scheduled match.
Nurmagomedov attacked Dvalishvili with a full entourage while the Georgian fighter was accompanied by only one friend. Makhachev took to Instagram stories to defend his teammate’s actions, claiming Dvalishvili started the feud months earlier.
MMA Guru reacts to Islam Makhachev’s statement after Usman Nurmagomedov jumped Merab Dvallishvili, and says there’s a clear difference between fighting one on one and JUMPING someone 👀
“Merab, and this is the f-cking difference, on his own, slapped this guy in the face for… pic.twitter.com/Wm2bc7SbrR
— Title Fight (@TitleFightMedia) November 12, 2026
According to Makhachev, Dvalishvili struck Dagestani wrestler Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov at RAF Georgia in July 2026. The UFC champion questioned why people condemned Nurmagomedov’s attack but remained silent when Dvalishvili hit the Dagestani fighter first.
“To those who are now condemning Usman and the guys, why did you remain silent when Merab inexplicably struck a Dagestani wrestler and insulted his honor?” Makhachev wrote. He added that Gadzhimagomedov had approached Dvalishvili to talk without any malicious intent.
Tensions Between Dvalishvili and Dagestani Fighters
The bad blood between Dvalishvili and the Dagestani squad stems from his rivalry with Umar Nurmagomedov, Usman’s brother. Dvalishvili repeatedly accused Umar of receiving special treatment for being Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cousin.
The Georgian fighter was initially reluctant to defend his UFC bantamweight title against Umar. However, he eventually faced the undefeated Dagestani in 2025 and successfully defended his championship.
At RAF Georgia in July, Gadzhimagomedov approached Dvalishvili and told him to stop talking negatively about Umar when he wasn’t present at the event. Dvalishvili responded by slapping Gadzhimagomedov, which led to a brawl at the venue.
Makhachev stated in his Instagram post that Dvalishvili also insulted Gadzhimagomedov’s mother during the incident. The UFC champion believes this justified the retaliation that occurred in Abu Dhabi months later.
Cormier Defends Makhachev Against Ducking Claims
Separately, former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier has addressed speculation that Makhachev is avoiding a fight with welterweight contender Carlos Prates. Many fans have theorized that the pound-for-pound number one fighter is ducking the Brazilian.
Prates himself previously said that Makhachev had “chickened out” of a potential fight against him. The Brazilian’s comments fueled fan speculation about why Makhachev chose not to compete at UFC 336.
Cormier dismissed these claims on his podcast, insisting his former training partner is not afraid of anyone. “Islam’s not afraid. He’d probably fight Carlos Prates in the Octagon, outside the Octagon. He’d fight him anywhere,” Cormier said.
Makhachev has stated that he wants to face the best welterweight contender available for his next fight. He pointed out that Prates recently lost to Ian Garry, whom Makhachev already defeated in August 2026.
The champion explained that Michael Morales has been waiting for his opportunity and deserves consideration. Makhachev wants Prates and Morales to settle the debate about who is the top contender first.
Prates will now face the unbeaten Morales for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 on January 30, 2027. The winner is expected to challenge Makhachev for the undisputed championship belt.
Dana White confirmed that Makhachev opted to return to competition after Ramadan. Cormier encouraged Prates to focus on Morales rather than talking about Makhachev, since he must win that fight before earning a title shot.
