Key Takeaways
- An Abu Dhabi court sentenced Usman Nurmagomedov and five teammates to six months in prison, fined each 300,000 AED (about $81,700), and ordered their deportation after a hotel brawl involving Merab Dvalishvili.
- Dvalishvili and Saba Lazishvili left detention after roughly two days with fines of 50,000 AED each, and Dvalishvili urged authorities to release everyone, saying, “I want peace and the best for all.”
- Real American Freestyle barred Usman from its Abu Dhabi event and removed his brother Umar from a match against Urijah Faber, while Dvalishvili remains scheduled to face Marlon Moraes on Saturday.
Usman Nurmagomedov has been sentenced to six months in prison in the United Arab Emirates following a violent altercation involving UFC star Merab Dvalishvili at an Abu Dhabi hotel.
According to ESPN, an Abu Dhabi court sentenced Nurmagomedov and five members of his team Friday (Nov. 13) for their involvement in Wednesday's attack at the Yas Hilton. All six were fined 300,000 AED, approximately $81,700, and will be deported after serving their sentences.
The court convicted the group of "disturbing public security" and "causing panic and endangering lives."
The incident reportedly began when Nurmagomedov approached Dvalishvili from behind during a Real American Freestyle (RAF) interview and slapped him, sparking a brawl that left Dvalishvili and his friend Saba Lazishvili injured.
"Usman and his buddies came up from behind and started punching me and my young friend," Dvalishvili wrote on social media, adding that "they kept kicking us when we were down like losers."
Dvalishvili and Lazishvili were also arrested and spent approximately two days in detention before being released Friday. Both were fined 50,000 AED, roughly $13,600, for disturbing public security and assaulting others.
Two additional individuals received six-month prison sentences and fines for recording and sharing footage of the confrontation online.
Nurmagomedov, 28, is the cousin of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov and holds an undefeated 22-0 MMA record. He was in Abu Dhabi supporting his brother Umar, who was scheduled to face Urijah Faber at RAF's event.
The confrontation comes amid tensions between the two camps. Dvalishvili defeated Umar at UFC 311 in January 2025, and the groups previously clashed during an RAF event in Georgia.
UFC president Dana White criticized those involved during a Thursday press conference.
"What a bunch of fucking idiots... It's absolutely ridiculous and stupid, and they're all in jail. That is not a place to go fuck around," White said.
Nurmagomedov's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, apologized for the incident, while Islam Makhachev defended the group on social media.
Following his release, Dvalishvili expressed hope that everyone involved would be freed.
"I do hope that they release everyone - i would not press charges. I want peace and the best for all," he wrote.
RAF subsequently barred Nurmagomedov from its event, while Umar was removed from his scheduled match against Faber. Lazishvili is expected to replace him.
Dvalishvili remains scheduled to face Marlon Moraes on Saturday, while Nurmagomedov's prison sentence could complicate a potential UFC move in 2027.
