Daniel Cormier: Usman Nurmagomedov will be in 'real big trouble' after attack on Merab Dvalishvili

Daniel Cormier has condemned his American Kickboxing Academy teammate Usman Nurmagomedov for the attack on Merab Dvalishvili in an Abu Dhabi hotel this week, warning that the PFL lightweight will be in "real big trouble" and that he deserves it. Cormier made the comments on his YouTube channel, as reported by MMA Junkie on Friday, November 13.

The incident happened on Wednesday night, November 11, when Nurmagomedov walked up to Dvalishvili and slapped him, sparking a brawl between the two camps ahead of the Real American Freestyle (RAF) event in Abu Dhabi. On Friday an Abu Dhabi court handed prison sentences, fines and deportation orders to members of Nurmagomedov's group, while Dvalishvili and his friend Saba Lazishvili were fined and released.

'Bad behavior is bad behavior'

Cormier, who defended Nurmagomedov when he jumped the cage at UFC Shanghai to check on his brother Umar Nurmagomedov after Umar's knockout loss to Song Yadong, said there would be no sympathy this time.

"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. I know there's a lot of bad blood between these two camps. I also know that it should never lead to behavior like we saw."

The former two-division UFC champion admitted he was no saint in his own rivalries, pointing to his lobby brawl with Jon Jones at the MGM Grand, but said this crossed a line.

"We as fighters should not fear or worry about our safety whenever we go to places to do other things," Cormier said. "I saw somewhere that Merab had smacked someone in Georgia; one bad action should not lead to another bad action because now, both of these guys lose in this situation."

According to MMA Junkie, Nurmagomedov's attack was retaliation for Dvalishvili slapping Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov, a friend of Umar Nurmagomedov, backstage at RAF Georgia in August.

Warning for Usman's career

"Usman is going to find himself in real big trouble for this. And deservedly so, you cannot do that," Cormier said. "We are professionals, it's dangerous. It's very dangerous to fight in real life. I'm not trying to spin and protect anything. Bad behavior is bad behavior."

Cormier added that he expects Khabib Nurmagomedov to speak with his cousin: "Usman has to control himself. Now it's been multiple times. Jumping in the ring, and now this." He also said the incident "will stick with him for as long as his career goes."

Merab still competing at RAF

In his video, Cormier said Dvalishvili was "probably not going to get to compete" at RAF. That has since changed: after his release on Friday, RAF confirmed Dvalishvili will wrestle Marlon Moraes in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, November 14, with Lazishvili added to the card against Urijah Faber.

• Who: Daniel Cormier on Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili
• Where: Daniel Cormier's YouTube channel, via MMA Junkie
• Context: Abu Dhabi hotel brawl on November 11, court rulings on November 13