A video appeared to show PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov approaching former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili from behind and slapping him during an interview at the Yas Hilton in Abu Dhabi on November 11, 2026. A confrontation followed, 10 people were arrested, and the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court later imposed prison sentences and fines on all 10 defendants.
17
19
20
What happened in the hotel lobby
Dvalishvili was being interviewed ahead of a Real American Freestyle (RAF) event when Nurmagomedov approached with a group. Footage appeared to show the slap before fighting broke out between people in the two camps.
17
19
22 Dvalishvili said he and a friend were attacked; reports described both as visibly bloodied after the altercation.
29
Abu Dhabi Police arrested eight people for involvement in the fight and two others for filming it. The 10 were referred to prosecutors.
4
26
The court’s penalties for all 10 defendants
The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court convicted 10 people on November 13. Eight received six-month prison sentences; the other two were fined AED 50,000 each without prison terms.
20
33
The reported breakdown was:
- Six defendants associated in media reports with Team Nurmagomedov: six months in prison, an AED 300,000 fine each, and deportation after serving their sentences. The reported offences included disturbing public security, causing panic, and endangering lives.
20
34
- Two people who filmed and published footage: six months in prison, an AED 300,000 fine each, and deportation. Reporting said the court also ordered their phones confiscated and the recordings deleted; the cited reports describe the case as a privacy violation involving the use of information technology.
12
20
- Two defendants who received fines only: AED 50,000 each for disturbing public security and assaulting others.
12
33
What is known about the defendants’ identities
The court announcement did not publicly name the defendants, according to BBC reporting.
50 ESPN and other coverage described six of those sentenced for the fight as members of Team Nurmagomedov, and reported that Usman was among them.
34
37 ESPN reporting also identified Dvalishvili and a friend as the two people fined without prison; later coverage identified the friend as Saba Lazishvili.
21
37 These are media identifications, not names provided in the court announcement.
50
Dvalishvili and Lazishvili returned to the RAF card
RAF CEO Chad Bronstein confirmed that Dvalishvili had been released from custody.
32 Later reporting said Dvalishvili was cleared to wrestle Marlon Moraes at RAF Abu Dhabi and that Lazishvili replaced Umar Nurmagomedov on the card.
21 The available reporting confirms Bronstein’s release update, but does not provide a sufficiently complete account of his remarks to quote them here.