The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court has handed down prison sentences, substantial fines and deportation orders following the hotel brawl involving Usman Nurmagomedov’s entourage and former UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili. Ten people have been convicted over the confrontation, with the authorities imposing separate penalties on those involved in the fight and two individuals who recorded and published footage of it. Dvalishvili and a friend were also fined, although neither received a prison sentence.
Abu Dhabi court sentences eight people to six months in prison
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department confirmed that six defendants involved in the confrontation were sentenced to six months in prison, fined AED 300,000 each (approximately $81,700) and ordered to be deported from the United Arab Emirates after completing their sentences.The convictions concerned disturbing public security, causing panic and endangering lives, following the violent altercation at a hotel on Yas Island. The authorities have not publicly identified the six defendants, so it remains unclear whether Usman Nurmagomedov himself was among those sentenced.The court also handed six-month prison sentences to the two individuals who filmed the confrontation and subsequently published footage of it. They received the same AED 300,000 fine (approximately $81,700) each and were ordered to be deported after serving their sentences.Their convictions concerned violations of privacy through the use of information technology to record and publish footage of the brawl. The court additionally ordered their mobile phones to be confiscated and the recordings to be deleted.The ruling means eight of the 10 convicted individuals received prison sentences, financial penalties and deportation orders, although the specific identities of those sentenced have not been disclosed.
Merab Dvalishvili and friend fined as RAF confirms his release
Dvalishvili and a friend were also penalised by the court, receiving fines of AED 50,000 each (approximately $13,600) for disturbing public security and assaulting others. Neither was sentenced to imprisonment.Real American Freestyle (RAF) CEO and co-founder Chad Bronstein subsequently confirmed that Dvalishvili had been released and was back with the organisation’s team in Abu Dhabi. In a statement issued later on Friday, November 13, Bronstein thanked the local authorities for their assistance.“I am pleased to share that Merab Dvalishvili is back with us in Abu Dhabi. 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,” Bronstein said.The incident occurred on Wednesday, November 11, at the hotel hosting the RAF event, where Dvalishvili was conducting an interview ahead of his scheduled wrestling appearance. Nurmagomedov approached the Georgian fighter and slapped him, triggering a wider confrontation involving members of both groups. Dvalishvili and a friend were subsequently seen attempting to defend themselves against several members of Nurmagomedov’s entourage.The confrontation reportedly stemmed from an earlier incident in August at RAF Georgia, where Dvalishvili allegedly slapped Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov, a friend of Usman’s brother Umar Nurmagomedov, backstage. The reported earlier altercation has been cited as the motive for the confrontation in Abu Dhabi, although it does not change the penalties imposed by the court.
What the sentences mean for Usman Nurmagomedov and his UFC future
The court’s decision comes at a significant point in Nurmagomedov’s career. The undefeated Russian, who holds the PFL lightweight championship, had recently completed his contract with the promotion and declined to sign a new agreement. He had consequently been widely expected to become a target for the UFC, with his manager Ali Abdelaziz representing several fighters in the organisation.The confrontation has already drawn criticism from UFC president Dana White, who described those involved as “a bunch of f***ing idiots” and called the incident “absolutely ridiculous and stupid”. Abdelaziz also apologised to Abu Dhabi and its leadership on behalf of Nurmagomedov and his team, describing what happened as embarrassing and unacceptable.White had previously clarified that Nurmagomedov remained under contract with the PFL and that the UFC was not discussing a potential signing with him at that stage. The court’s ruling adds another complication to questions surrounding his next career move, although the authorities have not clearly identified him as one of the individuals sentenced.Nurmagomedov had travelled to Abu Dhabi to support his brother Umar, who was scheduled to face former UFC champion Urijah Faber at Saturday’s RAF event. Usman was subsequently banned from attending the competition following the hotel confrontation, while Dvalishvili had been scheduled to wrestle Marlon Moraes. Bronstein’s confirmation of Dvalishvili’s release means the Georgian is back with the RAF team, although the wider consequences of the incident for the fighters and their respective camps remain to be seen.