UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev came to the defense of Usman Nurmagomedov on Wednesday following Nurmagomedov’s bloody attack on Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi.
Makhachev, Uncrowned’s No. 1 pound-for-pound MMA fighter, wrote on Instagram that “whatever happened today was started by Merab,” and wondered why critics were “silent when Merab slapped the Dagestani fighter and insulted his honor?”
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Makhachev’s full statement, translated by Uncrown’s Kristina Avsarkisova:
“Those who are judging Usman and the guys and insulting them right now, why did you stay silent when Merab slapped the Dagestan fighter and insulted his honor?”
“This man approached him without malicious intent, just to talk to him. What happened today was triggered by Merab when he allowed himself to slap and insult a guest in his homeland.”
Dvalishvili infamously slapped a friend and training partner of the Nurmagomedov clan, Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov, during a backstage altercation before the RAF Georgia event in Tbilisi, Georgia last July. Gadzhimagomedov allegedly approached Dvalishvili after the pre-match press conference, grabbed him and aggressively asked him in Russian what the former UFC bantamweight champion’s problem was with Umar Nurmagomedov.
Umar Nurmagomedov is Usman’s younger brother and has publicly feuded with Dvalishvili since the two collided in a heated grudge match at UFC 311 in January 2025, which Dvalishvili won by unanimous decision to defend his UFC bantamweight title.
Makhachev, a record two-division UFC champion, is a teammate and longtime friend of both Nurmagomedov brothers. Makhachev’s mentor and trainer, UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, is the cousin of Usman and Umar.
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Tensions between Team Nurmagomedov and Dvalishvili reached a boiling point on Wednesday when shocking footage was released showing Usman Nurmagomedov jumping Dvalishvili in a vicious group attack in an Abu Dhabi hotel lobby ahead of Saturday’s RAF event.
The attack, which left Dvalishvili and a friend badly bloodied, has drawn immense criticism from other MMA fighters since video of the incident surfaced.
Usman Nurmagomedov, Umar’s younger brother, is a former Bellator and PFL lightweight champion who is currently an MMA free agent.
Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov are both in Abu Dhabi for Saturday’s RAF freestyle wrestling event, with the two men expected to face off in separate matches.
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It’s not yet clear whether either man will remain on Saturday’s card; Dvalishvili is set to face Marlon Moraes, while Umar Nurmagomedov is set to face UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber.
Gn sports
