Usman Nurmagomedov Slaps Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi

By Marcus T. Whitfield

A quiet hotel lobby in Abu Dhabi turned into a brawl on Wednesday, Nov. 11, when PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov slapped former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili during a live interview. The Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili hotel brawl landed just three days before RAF Abu Dhabi, and the fallout is still unfolding. Dvalishvili was speaking to an RAF camera inside the Yas Hilton when Nurmagomedov approached from behind with a group of people, said something in Russian and hit him across the face. A melee broke out immediately. Dvalishvili later posted an Instagram video of himself with a bloody face while his injuries were treated, and he accused the group of coming at him like snakes. The latest update centers on law enforcement. The National reported that Nurmagomedov and others involved were detained and questioned by police on Wednesday, and MMA insider Ariel Helwani said late that night that everyone involved was still in custody. Abu Dhabi authorities and RAF officials had not formally confirmed any arrests, and a promotion representative said the incident would be addressed at Thursday's pre-event press conference. Neither Usman nor his older brother Umar Nurmagomedov had publicly answered the accusations in the most recent reports, and the PFL had not issued a statement. Video Shows Nurmagomedov Slap Dvalishvili Before Lobby Melee Multiple clips of the Abu Dhabi hotel brawl are now circulating online. One widely shared video shows Dvalishvili looking into a camera in the lobby while Nurmagomedov walks up behind him with several companions, confronts him and slaps him. Additional footage that surfaced early Thursday, filmed from behind Nurmagomedov, shows him speaking to Dvalishvili just before the slap and later kicking Dvalishvili's friend in the head. Fox News and OutKick reported that at least six people took part in the scuffle. Dvalishvili put the number much higher, claiming about 20 people were involved, that security held him back while others kept kicking, and that Umar Nurmagomedov was there too. None of those claims have been independently verified, and the Nurmagomedov camp has not responded. UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria also posted a clip of the attack and wrote that Usman had been detained, though that claim, like the broader detention reports, still awaits official confirmation. In his own video, Dvalishvili challenged the group to settle things in a real fight, not an ambush. Police Detention Reports: What Is Confirmed So Far Here is where the facts stand. The slap and the brawl are on video. Dvalishvili's injuries are visible in his own post. Reports of detention come from The National, Helwani and Topuria, but none had been confirmed by UAE police or RAF as of the latest information available. Nurmagomedov is not on the RAF Abu Dhabi card and is in the UAE to support Umar, who is set to face veteran Urijah Faber. Several things will shape the story over the next 48 hours: whether anyone is formally charged, whether those held are released, and what RAF officials say at Thursday's press conference. Is Dvalishvili Still Fighting Marlon Moraes at RAF Abu Dhabi? As of the latest reports, yes. Dvalishvili remains scheduled for a wrestling match against former UFC bantamweight title challenger Marlon Moraes at RAF Abu Dhabi on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Etihad Arena. He told fans he is fine and said the brawl is nothing for a fighter like him. Still, a cut and a bloody face do not amount to medical clearance, and The National described his participation as uncertain. The timing is awkward. Dvalishvili arrived in Abu Dhabi just weeks after fighting Petr Yan in the co-main event of UFC 333. A Feud Rooted in UFC 311 and RAF Georgia The bad blood did not start in the lobby. Dvalishvili beat Umar Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision at UFC 311 in January 2025 to defend the bantamweight title, and the two camps have traded shots ever since. Earlier this year at RAF Georgia, Dvalishvili slapped Usman's friend Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov backstage, an incident that resurfaced immediately after Wednesday's brawl. The Nurmagomedovs are also first cousins of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, which is why every clash involving this family draws global attention. What Comes Next for Usman Nurmagomedov and the PFL Usman Nurmagomedov is in restricted free agency, according to ESPN, and speculation has grown that he could leave the PFL for the UFC in 2027. A public brawl and possible legal trouble add a new wrinkle to that story, although no promotion has commented on how the incident might affect any contract talks. For now, fans should watch for four developments: official word from UAE authorities, the RAF press conference, Dvalishvili's medical status ahead of the Moraes match, and any statement from Usman Nurmagomedov or the PFL. This story is developing, and details may change as more information is confirmed.