A physical confrontation between PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov and former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili erupted into a mass brawl in Abu Dhabi. The incident follows lingering tension between the two camps, which previously clashed before an RAF event in July.
Tensions escalated after Dvalishvili labeled Nurmagomedov's older brother, Umar, as spoiled prior to defeating him in a bantamweight title fight in 2025. Umar Nurmagomedov is scheduled to face American Urijah Faber at an upcoming event.
Islam Makhachev, a reigning UFC champion and close training partner of the Nurmagomedov brothers, pointed to past grievances as the catalyst for the Wednesday altercation. Makhachev publicly questioned why critics remained silent when Dvalishvili allegedly struck a Dagestani wrestler and insulted his mother in his homeland.
Following the incident, footage was shared online by two-weight UFC champion Ilia Topuria, a friend of Dvalishvili. Topuria condemned the actions of Nurmagomedov and his associates, asserting that the behavior lacked fundamental values of honor, respect, and humility.
Usman Nurmagomedov currently holds free-agent status following his most recent bout with the PFL and has experienced strong speculation linking him to a potential move to the UFC. Meanwhile, fighters from major promotions frequently participate in RAF events alongside their primary fighting careers.