Daniel Cormier says Usman Nurmagomedov faces 'real big trouble' over Merab Dvalishvili attack

Cormier, who fought Jon Jones in the lobby of the MGM Grand himself, said "today was really bad" and that Dvalishvili will probably not get to compete at RAF Abu Dhabi.

Daniel Cormier has condemned Usman Nurmagomedov over the brawl with Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi, saying on The Daniel Cormier Show: "Usman is going to find himself in some real big trouble for this, and deservedly so. You cannot do that. We are professionals. It's dangerous."

Nurmagomedov slapped Dvalishvili while the former UFC bantamweight champion was giving an interview, and members of his team, including his brother Umar Nurmagomedov, joined in before the fighters were pulled apart.

"Today I saw dangerous actions. I saw Usman Nurmagomedov and a group of guys jump Merab Dvalishvili," Cormier said. "Watching that visual was actually very sad because I know Usman, I know Merab."

Cormier said he was speaking "even after fighting Jon Jones in the lobby of the MGM Grand" himself. "Emotions run high. At times I was guilty of bad behavior. But today was really bad. And it should never happen," he said.

He also singled out one moment in the footage. "As a professional fighter, you're not just swinging for the fences like the average Joe. You are going to strike with intention. And that was never more present than even when Merab kinda dipped his head and Usman kneed him," Cormier said.

"One bad action should not lead to another bad action. Both of these guys lose in this situation," he added. "Merab was there to wrestle in RAF. Now he's not probably gonna get to compete. Usman is a free agent. This thing will stick with him for as long as his career goes now."

Dvalishvili is scheduled to face Marlon Moraes at the event. Islam Makhachev has defended Nurmagomedov, his training partner, against the criticism.

Cormier said he expected Khabib Nurmagomedov to speak to Usman. "I'd imagine that when Khabib gets to him and speaks to him, Khabib will have a talking to him about his actions," he said. "But Usman has to control himself because now it's been multiple times jumping in the ring and now this."

READ NEXTAli Abdelaziz calls Usman Nurmagomedov's Merab brawl 'unacceptable', apologises to Abu DhabiRead the next story →

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