Anything with the UAE is of interest as I believe Dubai is where the coming Antichrist will be from, one of the seven heads. And also this involves fighters jumping other fighters which is just retarded, because if you really want to fight, you can setup a match of some sort and do it legally while getting paid. But you have to give credit to the UAE, not only arresting them pretty quickly, but speedily sentencing them with real consequences, to be deported after and probably never let back in without someone significant interceding on their behalf for an event. Which makes this entire thing hilarious for the FAFO memes… I’d imagine Dvalishvili could do alright with a civil suit there as well, though he’s a fighter’s fighter and will probably just let this go, exemplified as he’ll still take part in the wrestling event even though busted up a little. There are still some real men out there.
By Donagh Corby
Usman Nurmagomedov is one of ten men who has been jailed in Abu Dhabi following a brawl in a hotel.
On Wednesday, former UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili was seen on camera being viciously attacked from behind by a group of men, one of whom was PFL lightweight champion Nurmagomedov. All of the men involved were detained for two days, before Dvalishvili was released this morning.
Is Usman Nurmagomedov too much of a liability for the UFC to sign?
There are growing calls for the promotion to steer clear after he seemingly attacked Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi 😳
Now, the official X account of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has confirmed local reports that Nurmagomedov was one of ten defendants who were convicted this morning. The sentence is six months in prison and a fine of 300,000 dirhams ($81,688).
Usman Nurmagomedov one of ten men jailed after hotel altercation
On Wednesday, former two-weight UFC champion Ilia Topuria shared a video showing Merab Dvalishvili speaking to camera. Usman Nurmagomedov then enters the frame and appears to strike him before a group of his friends get involved in a physical altercation.
محكمة أبوظبي تدين 10 متهمين في مشاجرة داخل فندق وتفرض عقوبات بالحبس 6 أشهر وغرامة 300 ألف درهم لكل متهم مع إبعادهم خارج الدولة
Abu Dhabi court convicts 10 defendants in hotel brawl, sentencing them to 6 months in prison, a Dh300,000 fine and deportation pic.twitter.com/ytwAuVlVD3— دائرة القضاء-أبوظبي (@ADJD_Official) November 13, 2026
Former bantamweight champion Dvalishvili shared a video after the incident in which he seemed to be bleeding and receiving medical attention, asking: “What kind of fighters you guys are [sic]? What kind of man does this, bro?”
Dvalishvili and his friend Saba Lazishvili were each fined a reported $50,000 for their involvement as a result of “disturbing public security and assaulting others”.
Everyone involved in the incident was detained temporarily, but it was later announced by RAF Wrestling that Dvailshvili had been released. “I’m pleased to share that Merab Dvalishvili is back with us in Abu Dhabi,” said RAF co-founder Chad Bronstein.
“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.”
🚨 Full footage of the scuffle between Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili pic.twitter.com/SGJzkQdFif— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) November 11, 2026
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department have since tweeted that an: “Abu Dhabi court convicts 10 defendants in hotel brawl, sentencing them to 6 months in prison, a Dh300,000 fine and deportation.”
Bloody Elbow has reached out to the PFL, where Nurmagomedov is still the lineal lightweight world champion despite being out of contract and still negotiating either a new deal or an exit. They have declined to comment at the time of writing.
Usman Nurmagomedov is the cousin of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov and the brother of top bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov. His sibling fought Dvalishvili for the title in January of 2025 where he was handed his first ever defeat and the pair have shared a bitter feud since.