Islam Makhachev Backs Usman Nurmagomedov After Alleged Attack On Merab Dvalishvili

Islam Makhachev defends Usman Nurmagomedov after shocking Abu Dhabi melee.© NDTV Photo Library

UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has defended Usman Nurmagomedov. Video footage showed Nurmagomedov and associates confronting Merab Dvalishvili during a hotel-lobby interview in Abu Dhabi. Makhachev said Dvalishvili had started the situation by allegedly slapping a Dagestani wrestler and insulting him during a previous incident. Dvalishvili is scheduled to wrestle Marlon Moraes at RAF Abu Dhabi on Saturday. He said he and his friend Saba Lazishvili were attacked from behind while promoting the event. Footage shared by Ilia Topuria shows Nurmagomedov approaching Dvalishvili before appearing to slap him, sparking a multi-person brawl.

Islam Makhachev blames Merab Dvalishvili

Islam Makhachev, a long-time teammate of Usman Nurmagomedov at American Kickboxing Academy, wrote on Instagram that critics were wrong to condemn Usman and his group. “To those who are now condemning Usman and the guys, they are writing insults to them.”

"Why were you silent when Merab hit a Dagestani wrestler for nothing and hurt his honour?" he wrote.

He claimed the wrestler had approached Merab Dvalishvili “without malice” to talk. Makhachev added that Dvalishvili “started what happened today in his homeland” by allowing himself to hit a guest and insult his mother.

The 35-year-old fighter did not address the footage showing Nurmagomedov's apparent slap. Nurmagomedov has not publicly commented on the altercation.

Merab claims attackers kicked him while security held him back

Merab Dvalishvili posted a video while receiving medical treatment, with blood visible around his face and severe swelling around his left eye. He said Nurmagomedov and his friends came from behind and punched him and Lazishvili, a 21-year-old Georgian wrestler.

“What kind of fighters are you? What kind of men are you?” Dvalishvili said. “Security was holding me. They kept kicking us when we were down like losers.”

He challenged the Nurmagomedov camp to settle the issue in a fight rather than ambush him. Dvalishvili said he was not pressing charges, according to Ariel Helwani.

A rivalry that started inside the UFC octagon

The incident occurred a day earlier at RAF Abu Dhabi at Etihad Arena. Dvalishvili is due to face Moraes in a freestyle wrestling rematch. Umar Nurmagomedov is scheduled to fight Urijah Faber on the same card.

Usman Nurmagomedov was in Abu Dhabi to support his brother Umar. The RAF officials had not commented on the melee or confirmed whether Dvalishvili would still compete.

The rivalry between Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov camp began after Dvalishvili beat Umar at UFC 311 in January 2025.