Usman Nurmagomedov jailed six months in Abu Dhabi for attack on Merab Dvalishvili
An Abu Dhabi court sentenced Usman Nurmagomedov and five teammates to six months in prison for attacking UFC fighter Merab Dvalishvili at a Yas Hilton hotel.
Abu Dhabi court convicts Nurmagomedov camp over hotel brawl
An Abu Dhabi court sentenced Usman Nurmagomedov and five members of his team to six months in prison on Friday, November 13, following a violent attack on UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili at the Yas Hilton hotel. All six were also fined 300,000 AED (approximately $81,700 each) and will be deported upon completing their sentences, according to complex.com.
The court convicted the group of "disturbing public security" and "causing panic and endangering lives." Two additional individuals received identical six-month sentences and fines for recording and distributing footage of the confrontation online.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when Nurmagomedov approached Dvalishvili from behind during a Real American Freestyle (RAF) interview and slapped him, triggering a brawl. Dvalishvili and his friend Saba Lazishvili were left injured in the altercation.
"Usman and his buddies came up from behind and started punching me and my young friend," Dvalishvili wrote on social media. "They kept kicking us when we were down like losers."
Dvalishvili and Lazishvili were also arrested in connection with the incident and spent roughly two days in detention before being released on Friday. Both were fined 50,000 AED (approximately $13,600) for disturbing public security and assaulting others.
Nurmagomedov, 28, is the cousin of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov and carries an undefeated 22-0 MMA record. He had travelled to Abu Dhabi to support his brother Umar, who was scheduled to fight Urijah Faber at an RAF event.
The confrontation follows ongoing tensions between the two camps. Dvalishvili defeated Umar at UFC 311 in January 2025, and the groups had previously clashed at an RAF event in Georgia.
UFC president Dana White addressed the incident at 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 issued an apology for the incident. Fellow fighter Islam Makhachev defended the group on social media.
RAF subsequently barred Nurmagomedov from its event and removed Umar from his scheduled bout against Faber. Lazishvili is expected to step in as his replacement.
Following his release, Dvalishvili struck a conciliatory tone. "I do hope that they release everyone — I would not press charges. I want peace and the best for all," he wrote online.
Dvalishvili remains on the card to face Marlon Moraes on Saturday. The six-month prison term imposed on Nurmagomedov could affect his prospects for a potential UFC bout in 2027.
Source: Google News UAE — Courts & Fraud