Old tweets have resurfaced, revealing that UFC flyweight contender Tagir Ulanbekov, who was also involved in the attack on Merab Dvalishvili and his friend Saba Lazishvili on Wednesday, had threatened to attack Ilia Topuria in 2024.
Usman Nurmagomedov, Tagir Ulanbekov, and several other Russian and Dagestani fighters attacked Merab and Saba in a hotel lobby in Abu Dhabi. During the melee, Saba knocked down Tagir.
Following the incident, Usman and seven others have reportedly been sentenced to six months in prison, heavily fined, and will be deported after serving their sentences. Meanwhile, Merab and Saba were also detained but later released after being fined 50,000 AED each.
Now, old tweets have resurfaced, which show Tagir and Usman threatening Ilia Topuria.
In 2024, during an online back-and-forth with “El Matador,” Tagir quipped:
“Ilia, save up your money and find a good dentist. When we meet, your teeth will be straightened out.”
Meanwhile, Usman Nurmagomedov had added:
“I hope you have the same energy when we face each other.”
Check out Tagir Ulanbekov and Usman Nurmagomedov’s comments below:
Ilia Topuria Blasts “bunch of mediocre” individuals Usman and team for attacking Merab
Ilia Topuria was among the first to inform fans about Wednesday’s altercation and the detention of Usman Nurmagomedov and his team. In an X post, the former UFC two-division champion blasted the Russian fighters for their actions, labeling them as a bunch of absolute cowards for jumping “The Machine” and Saba Lazishvili.
“And these are the same people who dare to preach about humility and respect? What a disgrace. A bunch of absolute cowards. I always thought you were a bunch of mediocre individuals. Now you’ve removed every last doubt. Honor, respect, and humility aren’t words you preach. They’re values you live by. And you’ve shown none of them.”
Check out Ilia Topuria’s comments below: