Dvalishvili fined but cleared to fight at RAF Abu Dhabi after Nurmagomedov hotel brawl
Georgian wrestler Merab Dvalishvili was fined Dh50,000 but cleared to compete at RAF Abu Dhabi after a mass brawl at the Yas Hilton hotel.
Georgian wrestlers cleared to compete after Yas Hilton brawl convictions
Merab Dvalishvili and his compatriot Saba Lazishvili will both take to the mat at the Etihad Arena on Saturday, thenationalnews.com reports, despite being convicted by the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court following a violent altercation at the Yas Hilton hotel on Wednesday.
The two Georgian wrestlers were each fined Dh50,000 for disturbing public security and assaulting others. Neither received a custodial sentence, clearing them to compete at the Rotational Athletics Fighting (RAF) Abu Dhabi event.
The brawl broke out in the hotel lobby after Usman Nurmagomedov and associates approached Dvalishvili and Lazishvili. Footage circulated widely on social media shows Lazishvili filming the encounter as the Russian MMA fighter struck Dvalishvili, triggering a mass brawl. Both Georgians later posted videos showing cuts to their faces.
A total of 10 people were arrested and detained in connection with the incident. The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court convicted all 10. Six defendants received six-month prison sentences, fines of Dh300,000 each, and deportation orders upon release for disturbing public security, causing panic and endangering lives, according to a statement from the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
Two further defendants were sentenced to six months in prison and fined Dh300,000 each for violating privacy by filming and publishing footage of the brawl using information technology. The court also ordered the confiscation of their phones and the deletion of the footage.
The RAF announced late Friday that Lazishvili, 21, will replace Umar Nurmagomedov on the card, making his professional debut against UFC veteran Urijah Faber. Dvalishvili, 35, will face his originally scheduled opponent, Marlon Moraes. The RAF described Lazishvili as a lifelong wrestling fan ahead of his first professional bout.
Source: Google News UAE — Courts & Fraud