Islam Makhachev Supports Usman Nurmagomedov After Violent Incident with Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi
On Wednesday, UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev publicly defended Usman Nurmagomedov after a harsh confrontation with Merab Dvalishvili took place in Abu Dhabi.
Makhachev, ranked as Uncrowned's No. 1 pound-for-pound MMA fighter, addressed the situation on Instagram. He claimed that the conflict was initiated by Dvalishvili and questioned why no one condemned Dvalishvili when he reportedly slapped a Dagestani fighter and insulted his honor.
"Those judging Usman and his team now, why were you silent when Merab slapped the Dagestani fighter and disrespected him? That man came without bad intentions just to talk. Whatever happened today started when Merab slapped and cursed a guest in his own country," Makhachev said, as translated by Kristina Avsarkisova of Uncrowned.
Background of the Rivalry
Dvalishvili previously slapped Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov, a training partner and friend of the Nurmagomedov family, backstage before the RAF Georgia event in Tbilisi last July. Gadzhimagomedov confronted Dvalishvili aggressively after the pre-match press conference, demanding to know why Dvalishvili had issues with Umar Nurmagomedov.
Umar is Usman's younger brother and has had a public feud with Dvalishvili ever since their heated UFC bantamweight title bout at UFC 311 in January 2025, where Dvalishvili won by unanimous decision.
Makhachev, who holds UFC titles in two weight classes, is a close teammate and friend to both Nurmagomedov brothers. Their cousin and mentor, UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, coaches Makhachev.
Recent Attack Sparks Controversy
Tensions escalated significantly on Wednesday when videos surfaced showing Usman Nurmagomedov leading a group assault on Dvalishvili in a hotel lobby in Abu Dhabi. The attack left Dvalishvili and an associate with severe injuries, sparking widespread criticism from the MMA community.
Usman, a former Bellator and PFL lightweight champion, is currently a free agent in MMA. Both Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov are in Abu Dhabi for Saturday's RAF freestyle wrestling event, where they are set to compete separately.
- Dvalishvili's scheduled opponent: Marlon Moraes
- Umar Nurmagomedov's scheduled opponent: UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber
It remains uncertain whether either fighter will still participate in the upcoming matches following the altercation.
