Old social media posts have resurfaced, revealing that UFC flyweight contender Tagir Ulanbekov—who was recently involved in a high-profile physical altercation with Merab Dvalishvili and his friend Saba Lazishvili in Abu Dhabi—previously threatened to attack former two-division champion Ilia Topuria back in 2024.
The initial controversy erupted on a Wednesday in an Abu Dhabi hotel lobby, where a large group of Russian and Dagestani fighters, including Usman Nurmagomedov and Tagir Ulanbekov, confronted and attacked Merab Dvalishvili and Saba Lazishvili. According to details surrounding the melee, the situation quickly escalated into a physical brawl. However, the aggressors did not entirely have things their way during the chaotic encounter, as Saba Lazishvili managed to fight back and famously knock down Tagir Ulanbekov amid the commotion.
The aftermath of the hotel altercation swift and severe legal and disciplinary consequences for those involved. Reports indicate that Usman Nurmagomedov, alongside seven other individuals linked to the attack, was subsequently sentenced to six months in prison. In addition to the jail time, the group faced heavy financial penalties and will be subjected to deportation once their prison sentences have been fully served.
Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili and Saba Lazishvili were also briefly detained by local authorities following the incident. However, they were later released after paying a fine of 50,000 AED each, as investigators sorted out the details of the lobby confrontation.
As the mixed martial arts community continued to reel from the shocking news of the hotel brawl and the subsequent legal fallout, internet sleuths and MMA fans dug into the digital archives. This investigation brought to light a series of old, combative social media posts and online exchanges involving some of the very fighters implicated in the Abu Dhabi incident. Specifically, old tweets demonstrated that Tagir Ulanbekov and Usman Nurmagomedov had previously directed direct threats of violence toward Ilia Topuria.
The digital animosity dates back to 2024, when a tense online back-and-forth unfolded between the Dagestani camp and the reigning standout known widely as "El Matador." During that war of words on social media, Tagir Ulanbekov did not mince words, taking aim at Topuria with a blunt and aggressive warning regarding a potential physical confrontation.
"Ilia, save up your money and find a good dentist. When we meet, your teeth will be straightened out," Tagir quipped in his 2024 post, signaling a deep-seated animosity that predated the recent events in Abu Dhabi.
Not to be outdone in the digital exchange, fellow fighter Usman Nurmagomedov chimed in with his own provocative remarks directed at Topuria, reinforcing the hostile stance shared by members of their training ecosystem.
"I hope you have the same energy when we face each other," Usman Nurmagomedov added during the 2024 online feud.
These resurfaced posts quickly circulated across multiple MMA fan pages and social media platforms, providing further context to the growing tensions between prominent factions within the global mixed martial arts landscape. For many observers, the old threats served as a troubling indicator of a broader pattern of aggressive posturing outside the sanctioned bounds of the UFC cage or other athletic promotions.
Ilia Topuria Blasts “Bunch of Mediocre” Individuals Usman and Team for Attacking Merab
As news of the Wednesday altercation broke and details began to circulate across the internet, Ilia Topuria was among the first prominent figures within the combat sports world to publicly address the situation. Taking to social media platform X, the former UFC two-division champion did not hold back his disdain for the actions of Usman Nurmagomedov and his associates. Topuria firmly blasted the Russian and Dagestani fighters, labeling them as absolute cowards for coordinating an outnumbered physical assault against "The Machine" Merab Dvalishvili and Saba Lazishvili.
Topuria’s public condemnation focused heavily on the hypocrisy of fighters who frequently present themselves as ambassadors of martial arts values, only to engage in unprovoked street brawls. His remarks resonated strongly with a significant portion of the fanbase who felt that physical confrontations in hotel lobbies severely damage the reputation of professional athletes.
"And these are the same people who dare to preach about humility and respect? What a disgrace. A bunch of absolute cowards. I always thought you were a bunch of mediocre individuals. Now you’ve removed every last doubt. Honor, respect, and humility aren’t words you preach. They’re values you live by. And you’ve shown none of them," Topuria wrote in his scathing post on X.
The public reaction from Topuria, combined with the explosive revelation of the 2024 threats and the severe legal penalties handed down in Abu Dhabi, has placed Usman Nurmagomedov, Tagir Ulanbekov, and their team under an intense microscope. With prison sentences, hefty fines, and looming deportations awaiting the perpetrators, the fallout from the hotel lobby melee continues to reverberate deeply throughout the international mixed martial arts community, overshadowing athletic achievements with serious legal and ethical consequences.
