Dana White Criticizes Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili After Hotel Altercation

UFC president Dana White has strongly condemned the recent altercation involving Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili. The clash unfolded at a hotel in Abu Dhabi when Nurmagomedov unexpectedly slapped Dvalishvili during an interview, triggering a chaotic brawl.

The violence escalated as Dvalishvili and an associate tried to fend off Nurmagomedov and several of his associates from the PFL. The bantamweight fighter was left visibly bloodied from the confrontation.

White Calls Those Involved 'Idiots'

Speaking at the UFC 334 pre-fight press conference, White expressed frustration over the incident, saying: "What a bunch of f***ing idiots. It’s absolutely ridiculous and stupid, and they’re all in jail. That is not a place to go f*** around."

White also addressed speculation about Nurmagomedov’s future with the UFC, noting he remains under contract with the PFL and is not currently being considered for UFC fights.

Background on Fighters and Previous Conflicts

Earlier in 2025, Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his UFC bantamweight title by defeating Nurmagomedov’s brother, Umar Nurmagomedov. Umar’s only other loss was a knockout suffered against Song Yadong in August.

Following that knockout, Usman entered the cage and appeared to elbow Song during his celebration lap, though many viewers believed it was accidental.

Nurmagomedov's Manager Issues Apology

On the day after the hotel fight, Usman Nurmagomedov’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, apologized publicly. He told MMA Junkie: "I’m truly sorry about what happened. It’s embarrassing. I hope these young men learn a good lesson. This should never happen again."

Abdelaziz added that everyone must set a better example and expressed regret toward the people and leadership of Abu Dhabi. He concluded: "We should do better as Muslims, as human beings, as athletes. What happened was unacceptable and must not be repeated."