Islam Makhachev has defended longtime training partner Usman Nurmagomedov following the violent altercation involving former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, suggesting that the Georgian was responsible for escalating tensions between the two camps.
Footage circulating online showed Nurmagomedov approaching Dvalishvili from behind during an interview at a hotel ahead of Saturday’s Real American Freestyle (RAF) event. Nurmagomedov appeared to slap Dvalishvili, prompting a brawl involving several members of their respective entourages. Dvalishvili later shared footage of his bloodied face and accused Nurmagomedov and his associates of launching a surprise attack.
Makhachev, a close friend and training partner of the Nurmagomedov family, subsequently took to Instagram to question the criticism directed towards those involved. “To those who are now condemning Usman and the guys, [and] they are writing insults to them, why were you silent when Merab hit a Dagestani wrestler for nothing and hurt his honour?” Makhachev wrote. “The man approached him to talk without malice.”
The UFC champion went on to suggest that an earlier confrontation involving Dvalishvili and a Dagestani wrestler had contributed to Wednesday’s incident. “Merab started what happened today in his homeland by allowing himself to hit a guest and insulting his mother,” Makhachev added. His comments come amid longstanding tensions between Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov camp, including the Georgian’s rivalry with Usman’s older brother Umar, whom he defeated in a UFC bantamweight title fight in 2025.
The incident has attracted considerable criticism from across the MMA community, with Ilia Topuria, Sean Strickland and Sean O’Malley among those to comment on the confrontation. Topuria claimed that Nurmagomedov and several associates had been detained following the brawl, although authorities in Abu Dhabi have not publicly confirmed those reports. Nurmagomedov himself has yet to issue a statement addressing the incident.
Both camps are in Abu Dhabi ahead of Saturday’s RAF event, where Dvalishvili is scheduled to compete against former UFC bantamweight contender Marlon Moraes, while Umar Nurmagomedov is set to face UFC veteran Urijah Faber. RAF officials have yet to publicly address the altercation or confirm whether Dvalishvili’s participation in the event will be affected.