Abu Dhabi Criminal Court has convicted 10 people over a hotel brawl involving mixed martial artists Usman Nurmagomedov, Merab Dvalishvili and their teammates; ESPN reported six Team Nurmagomedov members were sentenced to six months in prison and ordered deported, while The National reported Dvalishvili and a friend were fined.
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department announced the verdict on Friday, saying the court had convicted 10 defendants in connection with a brawl inside a hotel and sentenced them to six months' imprisonment along with deportation from the country.
According to ESPN, six members of Team Nurmagomedov were sentenced to six months in prison, fined 300,000 dirhams (approximately $81,600) and ordered to be deported after serving their sentences. Abu Dhabi-based The National newspaper reported that former UFC bantamweight champion Dvalishvili and a friend were fined 50,000 dirhams ($13,600) for disturbing public security and assaulting others.
Two additional people were handed six-month prison sentences for privacy violations after they filmed the brawl and published the footage online. The court also ordered the confiscation of their phones and deletion of the footage.
The brawl broke out on Wednesday when Dvalishvili, who was scheduled to appear at RAF Abu Dhabi on Saturday, was being interviewed in the lobby of the Yas Hilton. PFL lightweight champion Usman, cousin of retired MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, and his associates approached Dvalishvili. Videos shared online showed Usman coming in from behind and slapping Dvalishvili, which started the melee.
Usman was not scheduled to feature at the RAF Abu Dhabi card but travelled to the UAE capital to accompany his older brother, Umar, who was scheduled to face Urijah Faber. On Friday, event organisers removed Umar from the card, replacing him with Saba Lazishvili, Dvalishvili's friend who was also involved in the brawl.
RAF cofounder Chad Bronstein said Dvalishvili has been released from custody and remains available for his scheduled match with Marlon Moraes. “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.”
Dvalishvili posted several videos on social media after the incident and released his personal statement on X, saying: “Just want to let everyone know I have been released, and I am good, healthy and ready to go. I want to thank everyone in Abu Dhabi for your help in resolving this matter … I do hope that they release everyone; I would not press charges. I want peace and the best for all.”
Wednesday’s incident wasn’t the first time Dvalishvili and Team Nurmagomedov clashed. Tensions also escalated in January last year after Dvalishvili defeated Usman’s older brother Umar in a UFC bantamweight title fight. They also had a smaller altercation at an RAF event in Georgia in July.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The case sets a legal precedent in Abu Dhabi for sports-related brawls, with the court imposing prison terms, fines and deportation.
- The incident disrupted a major MMA event (RAF Abu Dhabi), forcing a card change and raising questions about fighter security and conduct.
- It marks another chapter in a bitter rivalry between camps of two top fighters, potentially affecting future matchups.
Background
Abu Dhabi has become a regular host for MMA events, including bouts under the UFC banner. The brawl occurred ahead of a wrestling event organised by Real American Freestyle (RAF) at which Umar Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili were scheduled for matches against different opponents. Tensions between Dvalishvili and Team Nurmagomedov date back at least to a UFC bantamweight title fight in January last year, when Dvalishvili defeated Umar, and escalated at an RAF event in Georgia in July.
Key Perspectives
- RAFI cofounder Chad Bronstein: Dvalishvili is back in Abu Dhabi and available for his scheduled match; expressed appreciation to local authorities for their professionalism and support.
- Merab Dvalishvili (in a statement on X): Said he has been released, is healthy and ready to go; thanked those in Abu Dhabi for help resolving the matter; said he hopes everyone is released and that he would not press charges; said he wants peace.
What to Watch
- Whether any of the convicted individuals appeal their sentences.
- Whether the rivalry affects future match bookings between fighters from the two camps.
- Whether event organisers change security protocols for future events in Abu Dhabi.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- Partly supportedThe headline says 10 people were convicted over a hotel brawl involving “UFC stars.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court has convicted 10 people over a mass brawl involving mixed martial artists Usman Nurmagomedov, Merab Dvalishvili and their teammates at a hotel.”
- SupportedThe Abu Dhabi Criminal Court convicted 10 people in connection with the hotel brawl.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court has convicted 10 people over a mass brawl involving mixed martial artists Usman Nurmagomedov, Merab Dvalishvili and their teammates at a hotel.”
- Reports differThe opening says the court sentenced all 10 to six months in prison and deportation.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “According to Abu Dhabi-based The National newspaper, former UFC bantamweight champion Dvalishvili and a friend were fined 50,000 dirhams ($13,600) for “disturbing public security and assaulting others”. Two additional people were handed six-month prison sentences”
- SupportedThe summary says six Team Nurmagomedov members were jailed and Dvalishvili and a friend were fined.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “ESPN reported that six members of Team Nurmagomedov were sentenced to six months in prison, fined 300,000 dirhams (approximately $81,600) and ordered to be deported after serving their sentences. According to Abu Dhabi-based The National newspaper, former UFC bantamweight champion Dvalishvili and a friend were fined 50,000 dirhams ($13,600)”
- SupportedSix Team Nurmagomedov members were sentenced to six months in prison, fined 300,000 dirhams and ordered deported after serving their sentences.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “ESPN reported that six members of Team Nurmagomedov were sentenced to six months in prison, fined 300,000 dirhams (approximately $81,600) and ordered to be deported after serving their sentences.”
- SupportedDvalishvili and a friend were fined 50,000 dirhams for disturbing public security and assaulting others.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “According to Abu Dhabi-based The National newspaper, former UFC bantamweight champion Dvalishvili and a friend were fined 50,000 dirhams ($13,600) for “disturbing public security and assaulting others”.”
- SupportedTwo other people received six-month prison sentences for filming and publishing the brawl footage; their phones were confiscated and the footage was ordered deleted.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Two additional people were handed six-month prison sentences for privacy violations after they filmed the brawl and published the footage online, the reports added. The court also ordered the confiscation of their phones and deletion of the footage.”
- SupportedThe brawl began on Wednesday while Dvalishvili was being interviewed in the Yas Hilton lobby, and videos showed Usman slapping him from behind, starting the melee.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The brawl broke out on Wednesday when Georgian Dvalishvili, who was scheduled to appear at RAF Abu Dhabi on Saturday, was being interviewed in the lobby of the Yas Hilton. PFL lightweight champion Usman – the cousin of retired MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov – and his associates approached Dvalishvili. Videos shared online showed Usman coming in from behind and slapping Dvalishvili, which started the melee.”
- SupportedOn Friday, organisers removed Umar from the card and replaced him with Saba Lazishvili, Dvalishvili’s friend who was involved in the brawl.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Later on Friday, the event organisers removed Umar from the card, replacing him with Saba Lazishvili, Dvalishvili’s friend who was also involved in the brawl.”
- SupportedBronstein said, “I’m pleased to share that Merab Dvalishvili is back with us in Abu Dhabi,” and thanked the authorities for their professionalism and support.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““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.””
- SupportedDvalishvili said he had been released, was healthy and ready to go, thanked people in Abu Dhabi, and hoped everyone would be released.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““Just want to let everyone know I have been released, and I am good, healthy and ready to go. “I want to thank everyone in Abu Dhabi for your help in resolving this matter … I do hope that they release everyone; I would not press charges. I want peace and the best for all,” he added.”