Georgian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Merab Dvalishvili posted a video address on social media X accusing Russians Usman and Umar Nurmagomedov of assault, infohub.kz reports.
The former UFC bantamweight champion recorded the video from Abu Dhabi, where he is scheduled to compete in the RAF wrestling league. The footage shows Dvalishvili receiving medical treatment. Serious injuries are visible on the bloodied faces of the athlete and his friend, wrestler Saba Lazishvili.
“I was giving an interview for RAF in the hotel lobby, and Usman and his buddies came up from behind and started beating me and my friend. Security held me back — and they kept kicking us while we were on the ground,” Dvalishvili wrote.
In the video, the Georgian provided details of the incident and compared Nurmagomedov and his friends to snakes.
“What kind of fighters are you? What kind of men act like that? If you want to talk and fight, let's do it fair and square, bro. We're bleeding and fighting, and you're just scumbags. You are not real men, this shows your true character. What the hell? You want to fight — let's go! I'm a fighter! But you came from behind. I don't even know exactly how many people were there. All your friends were waiting to attack from behind. I knew what kind of people you really are. I came to Abu Dhabi, and here's Usman, Umar and their people from behind — wow... But me, my friends and family are okay. But you showed what you're made of. I fought like a man, and you like cowards,” Dvalishvili said.
There were no official comments from Usman and Umar Nurmagomedov or their representatives at the time of the incident.
In January 2025, Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov met at a UFC event. The Georgian won by unanimous decision and defended the championship belt, which he later lost to another Russian, Petr Yan.