Usman Nurmagomedov jailed for mass brawl in Abu Dhabi
Russian fighter arrested for six months, fined more than 6.7 million rubles and will be deported after his release from prison
Russian fighter, PFL lightweight champion, Usman Nurmagomedov was arrested for six months in the UAE for participating in a mass brawl with ex-UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi. This was reported by TASS and the Georgian portal Croco.ge, citing a source.
The Abu Dhabi Judiciary Department reported on Facebook (owned by Meta, the company is recognized as extremist and banned in Russia) that the court convicted ten defendants in the case of a mass brawl at the hotel, without specifying their names.
Six defendants were sentenced to six months in prison, a fine of 300 thousand dirhams (more than 6.7 million rubles as of November 13, 2026), as well as to subsequent deportation. They are found guilty of violating public safety, creating panic and actions that threaten people’s lives.
Two more defendants were fined 50 thousand dirhams each for violating public security and attacking others. The ninth and tenth defendants were sentenced to six months in prison, a fine of 300 thousand dirhams (1.1 million rubles) each and deportation. They were found guilty of violating privacy by filming and distributing videos of the fight. The court also ordered their mobile phones confiscated and video footage removed.
Croco.ge writes that a fine of 50 thousand dirhams received Dvalishvili and another Georgian fighter Saba Lazishvili.
Dvalishvili on November 11 accused Nurmagomedov and his entourage of attacking in the lobby of a hotel in Abu Dhabi. On the widespread in social networks, the footage shows how the Russian approaches Dvalishvili, gives him a slap in the face, after which the fight begins. Russian UFC champion Islam Makhachev said the conflict was a continuation of a dispute between Georgian and Dagestan wrestler Ahmed Hajimagomedov in Tbilisi in July.
Police in Abu Dhabi reported the arrest of eight participants in the fight and two others who filmed the incident. Cases were opened against all those involved, which were transferred to the prosecutor's office.
Dvalishvili is a former UFC lightweight champion. Nurmagomedov is the second cousin of ex-UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
