Makhachev pointed back to July in Tbilisi, when Merab slapped a Dagestani wrestler at an RAF event.
Usman hasn't commented yet. Merab is still scheduled to wrestle Marlon Moraes on Saturday, with no word from RAF.
UPDATE: Everyone involved in the Merab Dvalishvili vs. Usman Nurmagomedov hotel brawl, Merab and his friend included, was taken to a police station in Abu Dhabi for questioning. π¨
Islam Makhachev is defending Usman and says Merab "started" it.
Your take? #MMA#UFC
Harrison also admitted she was in a "dark place" after the neck injury that pushed this fight back from January.
Harrison is 19-1, Nunes is 23-5. Who leaves MSG with the belt? π
Kayla Harrison isn't holding back on Amanda Nunes. π
The UFC bantamweight champ says Nunes isn't just the greatest female fighter ever, but the greatest fighter ever, period.
Now she has to beat her Saturday at Madison Square Garden. #UFC334
Royval has history with both: Van beat him by decision at UFC 317 in a record 419-significant-strike war, and Kape stopped him in the first round at UFC Vegas 112.
Who takes the belt? π
Brandon Royval is the backup for Joshua Van vs. Manel Kape. π₯
"I'm the backup... At least it keeps me in the title picture for a little bit, and it gets me studying the champion and the contender."
The flyweight title fight headlines UFC 336 on Jan. 30 in Toronto. #UFC336
The push started after UFC 331 in September, when California commission chief Andy Foster called for a ban. Dana White said he agrees with him.
Rogan has compared the kick to an eye poke: one shot can wreck a knee for a year.
Joe Rogan on oblique kicks: π
"It is going to be made illegal, I know. I think we're announcing it right now."
Nothing official from the UFC or any athletic commission yet. Should the kick be banned? #UFC#MMA
Amosov admitted the matchup surprised him: "I thought maybe the UFC would give me somebody from the top 10, maybe number eight or seven."
Instead he gets Garry over five rounds. Upset alert? π
Yaroslav Amosov has a message for Ian Machado Garry. πΊπ¦
"He doesn't know me. He thinks all people can smash me, beat me. But now he has a fight with me, and now we will see."
They co-headline UFC Saudi Arabia on Dec. 5 in Riyadh. #UFC
JiΕΓ on Stirling: "Stirling is a sparring partner of Ulberg. They know me, but I think they're working with the old version of JiΕΓ."
He also said "Ankalaev didn't want to fight. Costa didn't want to fight."
Who wins? π
JiΕΓ ProchΓ‘zka on Carlos Ulberg keeping the belt while sidelined: π
"When I was injured and I didn't fight, they already spoke with me to release the belt... I wish him all the best and to be healthy, but I'm coming."
First he faces Navajo Stirling in Qatar on Nov. 21. #UFC
Topuria on Team Nurmagomedov: "Honor, respect, and humility aren't words you preach. They're values you live by."
Usman is 22-0 and was reported close to a UFC deal this week. Does this change anything? π
UPDATE: Video of the Merab Dvalishvili attack is out. π³
Ilia Topuria shared footage showing a man who appears to be Usman Nurmagomedov striking Merab from behind during an RAF interview, before a brawl breaks out.
Topuria claims Usman was detained. Unconfirmed. #RAF#MMA
Tye Ruotolo is staying with ONE. βοΈ
The ONE lightweight MMA champ says he has signed a new six-fight deal that covers both MMA and grappling.
ONE hasn't announced it yet. Who should he face next? π #ONEChampionship#MMA
Ciryl Gane isn't rattled by Josh Hokit. π
"I know he does it for the show, I'm pretty sure he's not a dark guy like he pretends to be. Yeah, it's his character and he does it well."
Gane vs. Hokit headlines #UFC334 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. #UFC
DC's advice for Prates (24-7): "Forget about Islam right now, because you don't get to him unless you get through Morales."
Morales is 19-0. The interim welterweight title is on the line in Toronto on Jan. 30.
Daniel Cormier isn't buying that Islam Makhachev is avoiding Carlos Prates.
"Islam's not afraid... He'd probably fight Carlos Prates in the octagon, outside the octagon, in wrestling. He'd fight him anywhere."
Prates has to beat Michael Morales at #UFC336 first. #UFC