TLDR
- Usman Nurmagomedov slapped Merab Dvalishvili from behind in an Abu Dhabi hotel lobby, sparking a brawl
- Dvalishvili and his friend were outnumbered and left with cuts and bruises
- Nina Daniele believes the attack was premeditated since cameras were already filming
- Daniele is calling for the UFC to ban Nurmagomedov from all events, citing precedent with Dillon Danis
- Nurmagomedov is currently a top free agent with a 22-0 record after his PFL contract expired
Sources: sherdog.com | mmafighting.com | sports.yahoo.com
A violent altercation between mixed martial arts fighters in an Abu Dhabi hotel lobby has sparked calls for lifetime bans and condemnation across the combat sports community.
Usman Nurmagomedov approached UFC bantamweight fighter Merab Dvalishvili from behind in a hotel lobby on Wednesday and slapped him. The incident, which was captured on video, quickly escalated into a full brawl.
Dvalishvili was giving an interview when Nurmagomedov struck him without warning. Multiple members of Nurmagomedov’s team, including his brother Umar Nurmagomedov, then joined the fight against Dvalishvili and a friend who was with him.
Sean O’Malley did a fight breakdown on Merab vs Usman Nurmagomedov 😅
“Did they just get done praying? Or do they pray directly after? It’s 5 times a day, so it’s gotta fit in and this was kind of a long brawl.”
(via @SugaSeanMMA) pic.twitter.com/4C2ZxvHmsk
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) November 12, 2026
The two UFC fighters were outnumbered during the confrontation. Both Dvalishvili and his friend sustained cuts and bruises from the incident.
Security officials struggled to separate the fighters as the chaotic scene continued for several moments. The brawl only ended after repeated attempts by staff to break up the fight.
Evidence Suggests Premeditated Attack
Nina Marie Daniele, a close friend of Dvalishvili who goes by the name Nina Drama, believes the attack was planned in advance. She pointed out that one of Nurmagomedov’s teammates began filming just before the slap occurred.
“Merab Dvalishvili is like a brother to me,” Daniele wrote on social media platform X. “Seeing that video of him getting attacked made me sick to my stomach.”
Daniele called the attackers “cowards” and “degenerates” in her statement. She is now demanding that the UFC ban Nurmagomedov and his friends from attending any future UFC events.
The social media personality drew comparisons to a previous incident involving Dillon Danis. Danis was banned from UFC events after an altercation with Nurmagomedov’s teammates at Madison Square Garden last year.
“The UFC banned Dillon Danis after HE got attacked, jumped by 20 guys when it was just him and his brother,” Daniele wrote. She questioned why no action was taken against those who attacked Danis.
Daniele also mentioned that Nurmagomedov tried to elbow another fighter, Song Yadong, after jumping into the cage at a previous event. “Just because he has the last name doesn’t make him above anyone else,” she added.
Top Free Agent Now Faces Uncertain Future
Nurmagomedov is currently one of the most sought-after free agents in mixed martial arts. The undefeated fighter holds a professional record of 22 wins, 0 losses, and 1 no contest.
He previously held the lightweight championship in the Professional Fighters League. Nurmagomedov successfully defended his title against Archie Colgan in July 2026.
His contract with the PFL expired after that fight. The promotion had an exclusive 90-day negotiation window to re-sign him, which ended last month.
Many UFC fighters and other mixed martial arts professionals have condemned the attack on social media. Multiple pros called the incident “deplorable” and criticized Nurmagomedov’s actions.
The attack occurred in Abu Dhabi ahead of a scheduled RAF event on Saturday. No official statements have been released by the UFC or other major MMA promotions regarding potential consequences for Nurmagomedov.
