Six members of Team Nurmagomedov have been sentenced to six months in prison following a brawl involving former UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili in an Abu Dhabi hotel.
On Wednesday at the host hotel of a Real American Fighting event, PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, the cousin of retired MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, approached Dvalishvili from behind and slapped him, triggering a larger altercation between members of the two camps.
Police arrested and detained all parties. Dvalishvili was later released, according to RAF CEO Chad Bronstein.
According to the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, six members of Nurmagomedov's team were each sentenced to six months in prison, fined 300,000 AED (approximately $81,700) and ordered to be deported after serving their sentences. According to The National news outlet in the United Arab Emirates, Dvalishvili and a friend were fined 50,000 AED (approximately $13,600) for "disturbing public security and assaulting others."
Two individuals who filmed the altercation also received six-month prison sentences, according to The National, for violating privacy laws by filming and publishing footage of the incident. The court confiscated their phones to delete footage.
Dvalishvili addressed the incident in a social media post Friday, confirming he was released and writing that he is "good, healthy and ready to go." He added that he was hoping everyone involved in the altercation would be released.
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 love visiting Abu Dhabi and am happy to be welcomed. I do hope that they release everyone - i would not press charges. I want peace and the best for all. Thanks everyone for your love and support🦾
— Merab "The Machine" Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) November 13, 2026
Tensions have escalated between Dvalishvili and Team Nurmagomedov since Dvalishvili defeated Umar Nurmagomedov, Usman's older brother, in a UFC bantamweight title fight in January 2025. The two camps had another, smaller altercation at an RAF event in the nation of Georgia in July.
Umar Nurmagomedov was scheduled to wrestle former UFC champion Urijah Faber at the RAF event Saturday but has been replaced by Dvalishvili's 21-year-old Georgian friend Saba Lazishvili, who was involved in the hotel brawl Wednesday. Dvalishvili will still compete in his scheduled bout against former UFC champion Marlon Moraes.
Usman Nurmagomedov, 28, recently fought out his exclusive contract with the PFL, and there had been speculation around the possibility of the undefeated fighter signing with the UFC.
UFC CEO Dana White commented on the brawl Thursday during a news conference in New York.
"What a bunch of f---ing idiots," White said. "It's absolutely ridiculous and stupid, and they're all in jail. That is not a place to go f--- around."