MMA fighters involved in brawl at Abu Dhabi hotel

A violent altercation involving professional mixed martial arts fighters occurred on Wednesday, November 12, 2026, at a hotel in Abu Dhabi. The incident involved UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov. Conflicting reports exist regarding the participants, as one source identifies the involved Nurmagomedov as Umar, while another identifies him as Usman. Video footage circulating on social media shows the Russian fighter approaching Dvalishvili from behind and slapping him, which escalated into a larger brawl involving members of both athletes' entourages before security staff intervened.

The 35-year-old Dvalishvili, who is scheduled to fight Brazilian athlete Marlon Moraes at the 'Real American Freestyle' (RAF) event this coming Saturday in the United Arab Emirates, later posted a video on social media showing himself receiving medical attention. The confrontation highlights the ongoing tensions between the respective camps of these high-profile fighters. Authorities have not provided updates on potential legal consequences or event cancellations following the intervention of hotel security.