Footage appears to show Usman Nurmagomedov slapping Merab Dvalishvili during an interview in an Abu Dhabi hotel lobby on Wednesday 11 November 2026. The former UFC bantamweight champion said he and a friend were attacked by a group of people while he was carrying out media duties ahead of Saturday’s Real American Freestyle wrestling event. You can find upcoming UFC cards on BetVictor’s UFC betting and odds page.
Ilia Topuria posted footage of the incident and said Usman Nurmagomedov had reportedly been detained. MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reported that people from both sides, including Dvalishvili and his friend, were taken to a police station for questioning. As of Thursday 12 November, Abu Dhabi authorities had yet to confirm a formal arrest or announce any charges.
What does the Merab and Usman hotel video show?
The National reported that the incident occurred in the lobby of the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island. In one clip, Dvalishvili can be seen talking to the media when Nurmagomedov approaches with a group of people. Nurmagomedov appears to say something to Dvalishvili before slapping him across the face. More people then enter the frame.
The clip Topuria shared runs for about 37 seconds and includes a cut. Footage from another angle has also circulated. It’s hard to tell from the clips exactly how many people were involved or what happened once the group closed in.
Dvalishvili posted on social media after the incident. He said a group approached from behind and punched him and his friend. He claimed they were then kicked whilst on the ground. In a clip posted afterwards, a medic can be seen treating a cut on Dvalishvili’s face. The extent of his injuries remains unclear.
Who was with Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi?
Dvalishvili was with Saba Lazishvili, a Georgian wrestler, The National reported. Dvalishvili said he and his friend were up against a much larger group and estimated that around 20 people were involved. The footage shows several people around them, some of whom appear to be trying to break up the fight. The clips don’t establish whether it was eight against two or how many people took part.
Dvalishvili also named Umar Nurmagomedov, Usman’s older brother, in his account. The footage gives a clearer view of the first visible strike, which The National and USA Today attributed to Usman, than it does of what everyone else did. Authorities have yet to make a public statement about anyone’s role.
Was Usman Nurmagomedov arrested or detained?
Topuria wrote on X that Usman had “reportedly been detained”. The former UFC champion, who faced Justin Gaethje at the UFC White House event, had already posted footage and publicly backed Dvalishvili. His post gave no official details about an arrest or how long anyone had been held.
Helwani reported that those involved had been taken to a police station for questioning. In a later update, he said he had been told they were still being held by local authorities. Russian news agency TASS cited an unnamed source who said people had been detained while officials established what had happened and took statements.
The National also reported the police questioning and said it was making its own enquiries. As of 12 November, authorities had yet to publicly confirm anyone’s formal arrest. Those involved were reportedly being questioned on Wednesday evening, and it remained unclear whether they were still being held on Thursday.
Could Usman Nurmagomedov go to prison in Abu Dhabi?
Some assault offences can carry a prison sentence under UAE law. As of 12 November, there was no confirmed charge against Nurmagomedov. Any penalty would depend on the offence charged, if any, and what the evidence establishes in court.
In the UAE criminal justice system, police can take statements and gather evidence. The Public Prosecution decides whether to file criminal charges and refer a case to court. The UAE Constitution provides for the presumption of innocence until guilt is established in a fair trial.
Some media reports have mentioned a possible two-year sentence. Authorities have given no public indication that they are pursuing a charge to which that figure would apply.
Helwani said his understanding was that Dvalishvili hadn’t sought to press charges. The National reported a similar understanding and said police were alerted after the incident took place in public and was filmed.
Why is Merab’s UFC 311 fight with Umar mentioned?
Merab fought Umar Nurmagomedov for the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 311 in January 2025. Dvalishvili retained the belt by unanimous decision, with scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46. It was Umar’s first professional defeat. Our coverage of Umar Nurmagomedov’s UFC setbacks looks back at that fight and his later loss to Song Yadong.
Islam Makhachev, who defended his UFC welterweight title at UFC 330, is a longtime teammate of the brothers. He defended Usman after the footage circulated and said Dvalishvili started the feud with an earlier altercation involving a Dagestani wrestler at an RAF event in Georgia. The hotel footage leaves the motive for the Abu Dhabi confrontation unclear.
Will the incident affect Usman Nurmagomedov joining the UFC?
Nurmagomedov’s next promotion was already a talking point before the Abu Dhabi event. He retained his PFL lightweight title with a first-round stoppage of Archie Colgan in July 2026, taking his record to 22 wins, no defeats and one no contest. It was the last fight on his existing PFL deal, according to reporting around the event.
On 11 November, his manager Ali Abdelaziz denied reports that Usman had signed with another promotion. He said Usman was still in his exclusive negotiating period with the PFL, despite earlier reports that it had expired. As of Thursday, the UFC had yet to announce a signing or any decision regarding the incident. Sean Strickland called for bans after the footage circulated.
Is Merab still facing Marlon Moraes at RAF Abu Dhabi?
Merab Dvalishvili vs Marlon Moraes was still on the published RAF Abu Dhabi card as of 12 November. The event is scheduled for Saturday 14 November at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. RAF lists an 8pm start in Abu Dhabi, which is 4pm in the UK. Merab’s match time will depend on the running order.
Dvalishvili and Moraes previously fought under MMA rules at UFC 266 in September 2021. Merab stopped Moraes in round two after a tough first round. Saturday’s scheduled match is under freestyle wrestling rules. Umar Nurmagomedov is on the same card against Urijah Faber. The National reported that Usman was in Abu Dhabi to support Umar.
An RAF representative told The National that the promotion planned to address the incident at Thursday’s press conference. The Moraes match comes less than a month after Dvalishvili’s third UFC fight against Petr Yan, which also took place in Abu Dhabi.
Keep an eye on BetVictor UFC and MMA News for more updates.
