Shocking 'blood-soaked face' — Ambushed and assaulted during an interview... UFC champion Meralb, Usman Nurmagomedov's group commits mob lynching: "Cowardly snake"

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Mixed martial arts (MMA) star Meralb Dvalishvili (35) was ambushed and attacked by the entourage of Usman Nurmagomedov (28) in the lobby of a hotel in Abu Dhabi.

The UK's 'The Sun' reported on the 12th (Korean time), "Usman's group ambushed Dvalishvili ahead of the Abu Dhabi event, causing him injuries."

The incident occurred while Dvalishvili was being interviewed in the hotel lobby for the 'Real American Freestyle (RAF)' tournament. Usman's group approached from behind and indiscriminately assaulted Dvalishvili and his acquaintance.

Dvalishvili expressed his fury on social media (SNS) by revealing his blood-soaked face. He claimed, "While security guards were holding me down, they continued to kick us as we lay on the ground," adding, "They targeted the fact that there were only two of us and ambushed us cowardly like snakes in a superior number."

He then raised his voice, saying, "We are fighters who bleed and fight like in war. Swarming someone to strike from behind is not something a real man would do. If you feel wronged, let us face each other squarely and fight."

Usman's side has yet to issue an official statement. However, the media reported, "Abu Dhabi police detained Usman immediately after the incident." Under local laws, Usman could face up to a two-year prison sentence. As a free agent (FA) aiming for his entry into the Octagon, Usman now faces a critical crisis that will effectively derail his UFC debut.

The bad blood between Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov family runs deep. In January 2025, after months of intense off-field tension, Dvalishvili defeated Usman's brother, Umar Nurmagomedov, by unanimous decision to defend his UFC bantamweight title. The resentment did not subside afterward, and Dvalishvili also got into a physical altercation with an associate of Umar ahead of the 'UFC Georgia' event.

Meanwhile, despite suffering injuries that left his face unrecognizable due to bruising and lacerations, Dvalishvili will proceed with his upcoming weekend schedule. He plans to fight Marlon Moraes as scheduled at the RAF tournament taking place in Abu Dhabi this week.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original