Nurmagomedov Blasted After Jumping Dvalishvili

Usman Nurmagomedov faces backlash from across the MMA world after he and several members of his team jumped Merab Dvalishvili during an interview in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

According to MMA Fighting, the attack unfolded as Dvalishvili spoke to media ahead of RAF Abu Dhabi. Nurmagomedov walked up and slapped the former UFC bantamweight champion without warning, setting off a chaotic brawl. Multiple fighters from Nurmagomedov's camp piled in, including his brother Umar Nurmagomedov, against Dvalishvili and a companion. RAF security struggled to restore order as the melee continued for several moments.

Pros Call Out Nurmagomedov For Group Attack

Fighters from multiple promotions criticized the incident, with many taking issue with the group nature of the assault rather than a one-on-one confrontation. The free agent lightweight champion, previously regarded as one of the sport's hottest prospects, is now fielding accusations of cowardice for the ambush-style attack.

The brawl took place just days before RAF Abu Dhabi on Saturday, where tensions between the camps had reportedly been building. Nurmagomedov's status as a top free agent could be complicated by the fallout from the incident.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — ‘Deplorable sh*t’: Pros condemn Usman Nurmagomedov, friends for jumping Merab Dvalishvili