Should Usman Nurmagomedov Be Banned by the UFC?

Usman Nurmagomedov is undoubtedly one of the hottest free agents in MMA right now. A former Bellator lightweight champion, the reigning PFL Lightweight Champion. Usman is also a cousin of the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov; the undefeated Dagestani has all the makings of a future superstar. 

Now, with his exclusive negotiation window seemingly over, and having turned down a reported $2 million-per-fight deal, many believe Usman is UFC-bound.

Despite boasting an impressive resume inside the cage, Nurmagomedov has an equally turbulent history outside of active competition, the latest being a violent altercation involving former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. 

That leaves one question worth pondering: should the UFC take a chance on the MMA star, or should Dana White and company, as many have suggested, including Nina-Marie Daniele, keep Usman and his crew out of the promotion?

What are Usman Nurmagomedov's Past Transgressions?

The Attack on Merab Dvalishvili

The most violent and infamous of Usman Nurmagomedov's transgressions took place earlier this week, when he and his crew attacked Merab Dvalishvili and his friend in Abu Dhabi. 

Dvalishvili, who was there for his fourth RAF appearance, was taken by surprise when Usman slapped him across the face. What ensued was a brutal melee, with the Nurmagomedov crew overwhelming Dvalishvili and his 21-year-old wrestler friend, Saba Lazishvili, with sheer numbers.

Usman's actions were reportedly an act of retribution for 'The Machine' striking a friend of his brother Umar at an RAF event in Georgia. Nevertheless, both parties were reportedly detained by Abu Dhabi law enforcement authorities following the incident.

Watch Usman Nurmagomedov attack Merab Dvalishvili below:

Rushing Into the Octagon After Umar Nurmagomedov's KO loss

There have also been moments when Usman's emotions got the better of him in a UFC setting. At UFC Shanghai, his brother Umar Nurmagomedov was knocked out by fellow bantamweight contender Song Yadong. Usman immediately rushed into the Octagon to reach his brother, while his legendary cousin Khabib tried to restrain him. Usman eventually managed to reach Umar, not before colliding with Yadong and appearing to pull back an elbow strike.

The finer detail here is that Usman had no business entering the Octagon without formal clearance, as doing so was against both MMA rules and established protocol. However, without an active UFC contract, he faced little in the way of consequences.

Watch Usman Nurmagomedov rush into the Octagon at UFC Shanghai below:

A Failed Drug Test

Usman has also been on the receiving end of disciplinary action. At Bellator 300, the Dagestani defeated Brent Primus. However, the result was eventually overturned to a No Contest by the California State Athletic Commission after he tested positive for a prohibited substance. 

Usman received a six-month suspension for the violation and was fined $50,000, in addition to being removed from the Grand Prix.

The fighter's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, attributed the positive test to a prescribed medication for an illness rather than anabolic steroids. As part of his settlement with CSAC, Usman was required to enroll with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA).

Other Altercations Involving the Nurmagomedov Camp

While this should not automatically sway our judgment of Usman, the Nurmagomedov camp has a history of physical altercations in the UFC. At UFC 322, Abubakar Nurmagomedov, Magomed Zaynukov, and others were involved in an altercation with Dillon Danis. Famously, Khabib Nurmagomedov himself jumped out of the octagon to confront members of Conor McGregor's team during the infamous UFC 229 melee. The camp has also had its share of issues with Khamzat Chimaev in the past.

Should Usman Nurmagomedov be Banned by the UFC?

While Usman Nurmagomedov has had his share of troubles and even been guilty of ungentlemanly and unsportsmanlike behaviour in the past, these transgressions are hardly an isolated occurrence in the sport. Looking at it objectively, mixed martial arts and combat sports in general have never exactly been a gentleman's game.

For every one of Usman's transgressions, there are bigger stars who have committed far worse. When it comes to his altercation with Merab Dvalishvili, MMA megastar Conor McGregor has arguably done worse, having attacked the UFC fighter bus at UFC 223. As for Usman's failed drug test, the widely regarded MMA GOAT Jon Jones has had considerably more doping violations than the Dagestani. 

Furthermore, if altercations between fighter camps are taken into consideration when deciding a fighter's fate, the UFC would have a hard time filling its roster.

While such behaviour should not be condoned, and there is no excuse for it, it hardly makes sense to see a promising future star like Usman Nurmagomedov have his career cut short just as he is poised to reach the zenith of the sport.