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A judicial authority in Abu Dhabi has convicted 10 individuals after a physical confrontation involving mixed martial arts fighters Merab Dvalishvili and Usman Nurmagomedov took place at a local hotel on Wednesday. Eight of those involved were handed prison terms following police intervention that initially resulted in 10 arrests.
Video footage of the altercation appeared to show the 28-year-old Russian fighter Nurmagomedov approaching former UFC bantamweight champion Dvalishvili from behind before slapping him. The action sparked a wider melee between the two athletes and members of their respective entourages.
Sentences Handed Down by Abu Dhabi Court
In a social media announcement, Abu Dhabi’s judicial department confirmed that all 10 defendants received convictions. As reported by local news outlet The National, six individuals received six-month prison sentences, were fined £62,000 each, and ordered to be deported upon completing their jail terms after being found guilty of disrupting public security, causing panic, and endangering lives.
Two additional defendants were handed identical six-month prison sentences, £62,000 fines, and deportation orders for violating privacy by utilizing information technology to film and publish video of the violent incident. Meanwhile, the remaining two individuals avoided jail time but were fined £10,200 each for disturbing public security and committing assault.
Authorities have not publicly identified any of the defendants. BBC Sport reached out to Abu Dhabi’s judicial department seeking official confirmation regarding the rulings.
Fighter Status and Upcoming Event
Despite the legal proceedings, Real American Freestyle (RAF) co-founder Chad Bronstein confirmed that 35-year-old Georgian fighter Dvalishvili has been freed from custody. Bronstein expressed gratitude to local officials following the fighter’s release.
“I’m pleased to share that Merab Dvalishvili is back with us in Abu Dhabi,” Bronstein said in a statement. “We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi for their professionalism and support. We remain focused on moving forward and are pleased to have Merab back with us.”
Dvalishvili is scheduled to compete against Brazilian opponent Marlon Moraes at an RAF event in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday. Following the incident, Dvalishvili released a video calling Nurmagomedov and his entourage “snakes” while receiving medical treatment for injuries to his face.
Escalating Tensions and Promotions
Nurmagomedov traveled to Abu Dhabi to corner his brother Umar, who was initially slated to fight American veteran Urijah Faber on Saturday’s card. Following the altercation, Umar was pulled from the bout and replaced by Dvalishvili’s teammate Saba Lazishvili, who was also involved in the incident but appears to have been released from custody.
The conflict follows a previous clash between both camps at an RAF event in July. UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, a close associate of the Nurmagomedov family, indicated that the earlier confrontation contributed to Wednesday’s fight.
Usman Nurmagomedov currently holds the PFL lightweight championship, though his contract expired after his most recent victory in July. Despite rumors connecting him to a potential signing with the UFC, UFC president Dana White stated on Friday that he had not held discussions with the Russian fighter, describing the hotel brawl as “ridiculous” and “stupid” while referring to those involved as “a bunch of idiots.”
