Merab Dvalishvili Explains Slap That Sparked RAF Georgia Brawl After UFC 311 Rivalry

Q: With Umar Nurmagomedov declaring the feud far from over, will his upcoming Shanghai fight force a violent rematch?

Probably not by itself. Umar Nurmagomedov’s fight with Song Yadong in Shanghai is far more likely to shape title matchmaking than to “force” a violent rematch with Merab Dvalishvili. The facts point to a sporting rematch remaining plausible, but only if results and timing line up. Nurmagomedov has said the feud with Dvalishvili is now personal and that he expects to fight him again whether Dvalishvili beats or loses to Petr Yan at UFC 333. He is also coming in with momentum after wins over Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo, and a victory over Song would strengthen his case as a top bantamweight contender. But Shanghai does not automatically create a rematch. Dvalishvili is already tied to Yan in a trilogy bout, and the winner of Nurmagomedov-Song will still depend on the division’s title picture afterward. If Nurmagomedov loses, the rematch case weakens immediately. If he wins impressively, he can demand it more loudly, yet the UFC would still decide based on rankings, title status and available opponents. The risk of more hostility is real. The RAF Georgia altercation, conflicting accounts over who initiated contact, and Nurmagomedov’s insistence that the feud is “never going to be done” show the bad blood remains active outside the cage. Still, the stronger expectation is not an unsanctioned violent encounter but a commercially attractive, high-stakes UFC rematch if Nurmagomedov beats Song and Dvalishvili stays near the top of the division.

Q: What secret social media insults fueled the backstage brawl that sparked one of MMA's most bitter rivalries?

The “secret” insults were not hidden messages so much as private-feeling jabs aired on social media. Merab Dvalishvili said the real fuel behind the RAF Georgia brawl was that Umar Nurmagomedov and, especially, Umar’s manager Rizvan Magomedov had been disrespecting him on X and Threads. In Dvalishvili’s telling, Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov confronted him backstage because of comments Merab had made about Umar after beating Henry Cejudo in a wrestling match and rejecting talk of wrestling Umar next. But Dvalishvili said the hostility had already been building online. He described Rizvan as a “sneaky manager” and accused him of helping Umar insult and undermine him on social media. That online friction appears to be the missing layer behind the slap and the ensuing melee. Dvalishvili said he was calm backstage until Gadzhimagomedov grabbed him by the neck and yelled at him in Russian about Umar. He then slapped him, triggering the brawl. Nurmagomedov has pushed back on parts of that account, denying that others were using his social media and arguing that if Dvalishvili had a problem, he should address him directly rather than complain through cameras or online. But based on Dvalishvili’s own explanation, the key sparks were repeated insults and disrespect on X and Threads tied to Umar and Rizvan Magomedov, which turned an athletic rivalry into a personal feud.

3 articles · Updated · Sherdog.com · Aug 25

Merab Dvalishvili said he slapped Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov backstage at RAF Georgia after Gadzhimagomedov grabbed his neck and confronted him over comments about Umar Nurmagomedov.
The altercation came after Dvalishvili beat Henry Cejudo in a July wrestling match and then forcefully rejected talk of a wrestling bout with Nurmagomedov.
Dvalishvili told Ariel Helwani he barely understood the Russian shouting but recognized Umar’s name, saying the dispute should stay between him and Nurmagomedov.
That hostility dates to UFC 311 in Los Angeles, where Dvalishvili handed Nurmagomedov his only professional loss despite earlier doubting he deserved a title shot.
The feud remains active as Dvalishvili heads to a Petr Yan trilogy at UFC 333 on Oct. 24, while Nurmagomedov is scheduled to face Yadong Song at UFC Shanghai.