Popular UFC content creator Nina-Marie Daniele has publicly urged the Ultimate Fighting Championship to ban Usman Nurmagomedov and his associates following a violent hotel lobby altercation in Abu Dhabi involving former bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the mixed martial arts community, has renewed tensions between Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov camp, prompting widespread calls for disciplinary action from fans, analysts, and prominent figures within the sport.
The altercation took place in a hotel lobby in Abu Dhabi, where Dvalishvili and a companion were reportedly confronted from behind by Usman Nurmagomedov, Umar Nurmagomedov, and several members of their team. According to raw footage circulating online, the numerical advantage lay heavily with the Russian fighters, leaving Dvalishvili outnumbered in a chaotic melee that resulted in visible facial damage for the Georgian standout. Dvalishvili’s companion, identified as 21-year-old wrestler Saba Alazishvili—the brother of former UFC fighter Zviad Lazishvili—was praised by observers for attempting to fend off multiple attackers in defense of the former champion.
The clash is the latest chapter in a simmering rivalry between Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov camp. The animosity traces back to previous confrontations, most notably an incident at RAF Georgia where Dvalishvili slapped one of Umar Nurmagomedov’s friends. Although Dvalishvili subsequently apologized for losing his composure, and later stated ahead of his UFC 333 title rematch against Petr Yan that he and Umar had mended fences—even expressing a desire to train at Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Abu Dhabi gym—it became clear that not all members of the camp had moved past the Tbilisi incident. Usman, Umar, and their associates sought to settle the score, culminating in the ambush in Abu Dhabi.
The MMA community reacted swiftly and harshly to the footage of the confrontation. Numerous fans and commentators took to social media to condemn the ambush, with many directly petitioning the UFC to withhold any prospective contracts from Usman Nurmagomedov, the reigning PFL lightweight champion. The backlash intensified as details of the pre-planned nature of the attack emerged, with critics pointing out that the aggressors appeared to have been recording the incident on their phones as it unfolded.
Nina Drama Wants Usman Nurmagomedov and Team Banned from UFC
Amid the growing outcry, Nina-Marie Daniele voiced her profound disgust over the incident, labeling the actions of Usman Nurmagomedov, his brother Umar, and their team as cowardly. Taking to social media, Daniele did not mince words as she demanded that UFC leadership take a definitive stance against the fighters involved. She also drew comparisons to past disciplinary actions taken by the promotion, referencing the immediate ban handed down to Dillon Danis following a multi-man altercation at UFC 322, noting that Danis was penalized despite having been the target of the assault.
Expressing her personal anguish over the attack on Dvalishvili, Daniele shared her thoughts with her followers, emphasizing the close personal bond she shares with the former champion.
"Merab Dvalishvili is like a brother to me," Daniele wrote in her statement. "Seeing that video of him getting attacked made me sick to my stomach. Those cowards must pay for what they did. A premeditated attack, with their phones already filming. A bunch of degenerates."
Daniele further questioned the consistency of disciplinary measures within the promotion, highlighting the disparity in how past altercations were handled.
"The UFC banned Dillon Danis after HE got attacked, jumped by 20 guys when it was just him and his brother and they did nothing to them?" Daniele continued. "I really hope the UFC bans Usman Nurmagomedov and his friends from ever stepping foot inside the UFC. He tried to elbow Song Yadong after he jumped the cage… Just because he has the last name doesn’t make him above anyone else."
As the video continues to circulate and debate persists across combat sports platforms, the pressure mounts on promotional executives to address fighter conduct outside the cage. With high-profile figures like Daniele adding their voices to the chorus of condemnation, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of personal rivalries in professional fighting and the ongoing challenges promotions face regarding security and sportsmanship outside of scheduled events.
