Umar Nurmagomedov has questioned Merab Dvalishvili’s actions during a recent altercation involving the former UFC bantamweight champion and Nurmagomedov’s friend in Georgia.
The incident reportedly took place at the RAF Georgia event in July, when Nurmagomedov’s friend, Ahmad Gadzhimagomedov, confronted Dvalishvili over his past issues with the Nurmagomedov camp. The situation escalated before ‘The Machine’ appeared to slap Gadzhimagomedov.
Nurmagomedov was subsequently asked about the incident and struggled to understand why Dvalishvili responded physically. He said:
“He’s the one who has to live with it. Can you imagine a Georgian coming up to me in Dagestan? I can’t imagine myself doing that.”
Umar Nurmagomedov Questions Dvalishvili’s Response
Umar Nurmagomedov continued to question how Merab Dvalishvili and those defending his actions could justify what happened. He continued:
“But as a person, how do you live with that, and how do the people who defend it live with that?”
Check out Umar Nurmagomedov’s comments about Merab Dvalishvili below:
The incident adds another chapter to the rivalry between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov. The two previously met at UFC 311 in January 2025, where Dvalishvili defeated Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision to retain the bantamweight championship.
Despite their history, Nurmagomedov has previously maintained that he does not have a personal grudge against Dvalishvili. His focus now is firmly on rebuilding his position in the bantamweight division.
Nurmagomedov Set For Song Yadong Showdown
Umar Nurmagomedov is scheduled to face Song Yadong on August 29 at UFC Shanghai in a pivotal bantamweight matchup.
The fight allows Nurmagomedov to move closer to another title shot after suffering the first UFC defeat of his career against Dvalishvili. Song will look to derail that pursuit and establish himself as a serious contender in the division.
With a major fight approaching, Nurmagomedov will have little time to dwell on the latest controversy. His next statement will have to come inside the Octagon.
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