Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has unfollowed Paris Saint-Germain's Georgian footballer Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on Instagram. The move may be connected to the player's public support for his compatriot Merab Dvalishvili and his strong criticism of those involved in the recent mass brawl in Abu Dhabi.
As reported by İdman.Biz, Kvaratskhelia's account no longer appears on Nurmagomedov's Instagram following list. It is believed that the decision could be related to the footballer's comments directed at the entourage of Khabib's cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov.
The controversy stems from an incident that occurred on November 11 at a hotel in Abu Dhabi. According to reports, Usman Nurmagomedov approached Dvalishvili while the Georgian fighter was giving an interview. A mass altercation subsequently broke out involving the athletes and members of their entourages.
Kvaratskhelia publicly expressed his support for Dvalishvili and another Georgian athlete involved in the confrontation, Saba Lazishvili.
"Merab, Saba! Thank you, we stand with you! You have once again shown the world what it means to be Georgian, to be a man and to be human. Real men do not behave like those who treacherously approach someone from behind and try to overpower them through numerical superiority," the footballer wrote on social media.
Interestingly, back in July, Khabib named Kvaratskhelia among his favorite active footballers, alongside Vitinha, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele.
However, the former UFC lightweight champion has not explained why he unfollowed the Georgian star. He has also refrained from publicly commenting on the confrontation involving his cousin.
Therefore, any direct connection between Khabib's Instagram activity and Kvaratskhelia's statement remains speculative.
It should also be noted that Abu Dhabi police announced the detention of eight individuals following the incident. The case materials have been referred to the public prosecution authorities for further legal proceedings.
