Nurmagomedov and Dvalishvili brawl in Abu Dhabi
Usman Nurmagomedov slapped Merab Dvalishvili in an Abu Dhabi hotel lobby, sparking a brawl. Six Team Nurmagomedov members were sentenced to prison, fined and ordered deported, while Dvalishvili and a friend were fined.
IllustrationThe story so far
On Wednesday, former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili posted a video showing blood on his face and said Usman Nurmagomedov, Umar Nurmagomedov and others jumped him and a friend from behind in an Abu Dhabi hotel lobby while he was doing an interview. Both Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov were in Abu Dhabi for Saturday's RAF freestyle wrestling event. Dvalishvili's friend Nina Drama called for the UFC to ban Usman Nurmagomedov, saying the attack was preplanned.
UFC president Dana White later called everyone involved idiots at the UFC 334 press conference, saying Nurmagomedov interrupted Dvalishvili during the hotel interview and slapped him, starting a mass brawl. Ali Abdelaziz apologized. In Abu Dhabi, six members of Team Nurmagomedov were sentenced to six months in prison, fined 300,000 AED each and ordered deported. Dvalishvili and a friend were fined 50,000 AED each without prison terms, and two people who filmed the incident were sentenced to six months for violating privacy.
Latest updates
4 updates · newest first- 13 NovNew development
Nurmagomedov team members jailed in Abu Dhabi brawl
Six members of Team Nurmagomedov were sentenced to six months in prison, fined 300,000 AED each and ordered deported after the Abu Dhabi brawl involving Merab Dvalishvili. Dvalishvili and a friend were fined 50,000 AED each without prison terms, while two people who filmed the incident were sentenced to six months for violating privacy. Usman Nurmagomedov, who slapped Dvalishvili during a hotel interview, is a free agent expected to sign with the UFC.
Yahoo Sports ↗
- 13 NovOfficial statement
Dana White calls Nurmagomedov and Dvalishvili idiots
UFC president Dana White called everyone involved idiots after a brawl involving Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi. Nurmagomedov interrupted Dvalishvili during a hotel interview and slapped the UFC bantamweight, sparking a mass brawl that left Dvalishvili badly bloodied. White said at the UFC 334 press conference that Nurmagomedov is still under contract with the PFL, while Ali Abdelaziz apologized for the incident.
- 12 NovNew development
Nina Drama calls for UFC to ban Usman Nurmagomedov after Merab attack
Nina Drama, a close friend of Merab Dvalishvili, called for the UFC to ban Usman Nurmagomedov after Nurmagomedov attacked Dvalishvili in a hotel lobby in Abu Dhabi. Daniele said the free agent's attack was preplanned because a teammate began filming before the slap, and she cited the UFC's ban on Dillon Danis after a prior altercation. Nurmagomedov, 22-0 with one no contest, is a former PFL lightweight champion whose contract expired in July.
- 11 NovNew development
Dvalishvili claims Nurmagomedov brothers attacked him in Abu Dhabi
Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili said he was attacked by Usman Nurmagomedov, Umar Nurmagomedov and others in a hotel lobby in Abu Dhabi. In a video posted Wednesday, Dvalishvili appeared bleeding from the face and claimed the group jumped him and a friend from behind while he was doing an interview. Both Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov are in Abu Dhabi for Saturday's RAF freestyle wrestling event.
CBS Sports ↗