Nearly a day after Merab Dvalishvili and his friend, Saba Lazishvili, were ambushed by Usman Nurmagomedov and his associates in a hotel lobby, both Georgians remain in police custody. As the story continues to unfold, Dvalishvili initially took to social media to share a video showing him bloodied in the aftermath of the altercation.
He claimed that he and Lazishvili were attacked by more than 20 people. The group included PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, Umar Nurmagomedov, several Dagestani fighters, and other associates.
Footage of the ambush showed the Dagestani group slapping Dvalishvili before the confrontation escalated into a full-blown brawl, leaving the former UFC bantamweight champion bloodied. However, since the Georgian also retaliated during the altercation, everyone involved, including the alleged attackers and victims, was picked up by the police for questioning.
Now, it appears their detention could extend beyond 48 hours. In a recent update, Zviad Lazishvili, Saba’s older brother, revealed that the duo remains detained and could be held for an extended period until a judge decides how to proceed.
In a video shared on social media, Zviad Lazishvili said, “Unfortunately, my brother Saba and Merab, both of them are in jail up until now. They are not released yet, and they’re saying that they might stay there 48 hours and then a judge will decide how things will unfold, which I think is totally unfair because my brothers didn’t do anything bad.”
🚨 Zviad Lazishvili, Saba Lazishvili’s brother, shares a video on Instagram urging people to speak up.
Zviad says that Merab and Saba are still in police custody for defending themselves and could remain detained for another 48 hours. https://t.co/u8ocdGIdic
— Giorgi Kokiashvili 🇬🇪 (@iHeartGeorgius1) November 12, 2026
He added, “They were just defending themselves, and they had no other choice but to fight and fight back.”
Zviad also appealed to people who could potentially help secure their release. He said, “So please, whoever has the power or some connections to help them out, speak up and come forward. Already some Georgian guys, very good friends, contacted us and they are trying to get some lawyers and get the situation worked out.”
Veteran MMA journalist Ariel Helwani also confirmed that the duo remained in custody. Taking to X, he wrote, “Almost 24 hours later, everyone involved in yesterday’s brawl – including Merab and his friend Saba – are still being detained by local authorities, I’m told.”
Almost 24 hours later, everyone involved in yesterday’s brawl – including Merab and his friend Saba – are still being detained by local authorities, I’m told.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) November 12, 2026
Although Dvalishvili and Lazishvili maintain that they were simply defending themselves, their involvement in a public altercation has also put them under scrutiny. Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov could face serious legal consequences if found guilty of assault. A conviction under UAE Federal Law No. 31 could reportedly land him behind bars for up to one year.
Beyond the potential legal ramifications, the incident could also complicate Nurmagomedov’s proposed move to the UFC, which has long appeared inevitable.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
