Various members of Team Nurmagomedov have received prison sentences in Abu Dhabi after igniting a brawl.
While former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili was conducting an interview for RAF on Wednesday at the host hotel, he was approached by former PFL lightweight champ Usman Nurmagomedov, who slapped him. That sparked a massive brawl between the two sides, and all parties involved were arrested
.According to the "Abu Dhabi Judicial Department," six members of Team Nurmagomedov were sentenced to six months in prison and fined $300,000 AED each, as well as being ordered to be deported after serving their sentences.
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
According to The National, Dvalishvili and his friend were fined $50,000 AED each for "disturbing public security and assaulting others." They did not receive prison sentences. RAF CEO & co-founder Chad Bronstein confirmed Dvalishvili was released.
Official statement from RAF CEO & Co-Founder Chad Bronstein. pic.twitter.com/TOh5SN9A9F
— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA) November 13, 2026
The two people who filmed the brawl were sentenced to six months in prison, fined $300,000 AED each and ordered to be deported "for violating privacy by using information technology to film and publish footage of the brawl." The court also confiscated their phones and ordered them to delete the footage
Nurmagomedov reportedly attacked Dvalishvili in retaliation after Dvalishvili reportedly slapped Usman's brother Umar Nurmagomedov's friend, Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov, backstage at RAF Georgia in August.
Usman Nurmagomedov recently became a free agent after he finished his PFL contract and declined to sign a new deal with the promotion. He has been widely expected to sign with the UFC, where his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has the vast majority of his clients. Abdelaziz, as well as UFC CEO Dana White, spoke out against Nurmagomedov and his actions in the aftermath, but it remains to be seen if it actually will impact any future deal with the UFC.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Usman Nurmagomedov, team members get Abu Dhabi prison sentences after brawl
