The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court has handed down prison sentences to eight individuals following a mass brawl involving mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili. The altercation occurred at a hotel lobby in the UAE capital on Wednesday ahead of a wrestling event organised by Real American Freestyle (RAF).
According to the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, 10 people were convicted in connection with the incident. Eight of those involved received six-month prison sentences. ESPN reported that six members of Team Nurmagomedov were among those sentenced to prison time, and they were also ordered to be deported and fined 300,000 dirhams (approximately $81,600) each. Two other individuals were also given six-month prison terms for privacy violations after they filmed the brawl and posted the footage online; the court ordered the confiscation of their phones and the deletion of the video content.
Merab Dvalishvili, a former UFC bantamweight champion, was fined 50,000 dirhams ($13,600) for “disturbing public security and assaulting others.” Following the ruling, Dvalishvili was released from custody. RAF cofounder Chad Bronstein confirmed the fighter’s release and stated that Dvalishvili remains available for his upcoming scheduled match against Marlon Moraes.
The conflict began at the Yas Hilton while Dvalishvili was participating in an interview. Footage of the event showed Usman Nurmagomedov, the PFL lightweight champion and cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, approaching Dvalishvili from behind and slapping him, which triggered the surrounding melee. While Usman Nurmagomedov was not scheduled to compete at the event, he had traveled to Abu Dhabi to support his brother, Umar Nurmagomedov.
Key facts
- The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court sentenced eight people to six months in prison for their roles in the hotel brawl.
- Six members of Team Nurmagomedov face deportation and a 300,000 dirham fine after serving their prison terms.
- Two individuals received six-month sentences for recording and uploading video footage of the fight.
- Merab Dvalishvili was fined 50,000 dirhams but has been released from police custody.
- Umar Nurmagomedov was removed from the RAF fight card following the incident and replaced by Saba Lazishvili.
Why it matters
The event organizers have restructured their upcoming fight card as a result of the brawl, removing Umar Nurmagomedov from his scheduled match against Urijah Faber. Dvalishvili has indicated he does not intend to press charges, stating on social media that he wishes for the release of the others involved.
Background
Tensions between Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov team have been ongoing. The two sides previously clashed in January of the previous year following a UFC bantamweight title fight, and experienced a smaller altercation at an RAF event held in Georgia in July.
Source: Al Jazeera
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