Videos: Merab Dvalishvili, Umar Nurmagomedov separated by security before UFC 311 press conference

Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov can’t wait to get their hands on each other.

Friday, backstage before the UFC 311 press conference, Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) and Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) got into a heated exchange of words, prompting security to intervene. The two bantamweights will clash in the co-main event of the pay-per-view on Jan. 18 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.

According to TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, the altercation began when UFC bantamweight champion Dvalishvili stepped away from an interview to confront his upcoming challenger. Videos quickly surfaced online from RMC Sport Combat and AG Fight, showing the two getting close momentarily while Dvalisvhili asked why Nurmagomedov had disrespected him.

The two continued to yell back and forth as security kept them apart, eventually leading Nurmagomedov away. Dvalishvili returned to his interview after the situation was over.

Check out videos of the incident below via X (formerly Twitter):

C’est CHAUD entre Merab Dvalishvili et Umar Nurmagomedov !!! pic.twitter.com/nPD2MgMgDL

— RMC Sport Combat (@RMCSportCombat) December 6, 2024

C’est CHAUD entre Merab Dvalishvili et Umar Nurmagomedov !!! pic.twitter.com/nPD2MgMgDL

— RMC Sport Combat (@RMCSportCombat) December 6, 2024

Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov are expected to participate in the UFC 311 on-sale press conference along with headliners Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan prior to the UFC 310 ceremonial weigh-ins.

You can watch video of the press conference below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.