Abu Dhabi Police arrest 10 after brawl involving MMA fighters Dvalishvili, Nurmagomedov: report

Abu Dhabi Police have arrested 10 people following a brawl at a hotel entrance, with eight detained for their alleged involvement in the fight and two for filming the incident, Gulf News reported.

The altercation, which police said stemmed from earlier disputes, was later linked in media reports to MMA fighters Merab Dvalishvili and Usman Nurmagomedov.

Who was arrested in the Abu Dhabi hotel brawl?

Abu Dhabi Police confirmed that 10 people were arrested following the altercation at a hotel entrance on Wednesday.

According to the police statement, eight were involved in the fight, while the other two were detained for recording it. Authorities did not publicly identify those arrested.

The incident took place ahead of the Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling event scheduled for Saturday in Abu Dhabi.

Who were the fighters involved in the Abu Dhabi hotel brawl?

The confrontation was linked to MMA fighters Merab Dvalishvili and Usman Nurmagomedov, BBC Sport reported.

Dvalishvili, 35, is a former UFC bantamweight champion from Georgia, while Nurmagomedov, 28, is the reigning Professional Fighters League (PFL) lightweight champion from Russia.

Footage circulating on social media appeared to show Nurmagomedov approaching Dvalishvili from behind while the Georgian was giving an interview in a hotel lobby. Nurmagomedov then appeared to strike him across the face, triggering a brawl involving members of both camps.

Dvalishvili later shared a video on social media showing him receiving medical treatment for a bloodied face. He accused Nurmagomedov and his associates of attacking him and a friend from behind, calling them "snakes" and describing their approach as "sneaky".

What led to the Abu Dhabi hotel entrance fight?

Abu Dhabi Police said the altercation followed previous disagreements among several individuals but did not provide further details about the dispute.

The confrontation came amid tensions between the fighters' camps following earlier incidents. Dvalishvili had previously been involved in a confrontation with an associate of the Nurmagomedov camp during a RAF event in Georgia.

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, a close friend and training partner of the Nurmagomedov family, also weighed in on the latest incident. He defended Nurmagomedov and criticised Dvalishvili's past conduct, according to reports.

Meanwhile, two-weight UFC champion Ilia Topuria, who is close to Dvalishvili, shared footage of the hotel confrontation on X. He said Nurmagomedov and several others had reportedly been detained.

What legal action did Abu Dhabi Police take?

Abu Dhabi Police said legal measures had been initiated against all 10 people arrested in connection with the incident, with the case referred to the Public Prosecution for further proceedings under applicable laws.

Abu Dhabi Police said they would take firm action against behaviour that threatens public security or endangers others.

The force also urged residents and visitors to comply with laws and regulations and maintain responsible and respectful conduct in public places.

Will Dvalishvili still fight at the RAF event in the UAE?

Dvalishvili is scheduled to face Brazilian fighter Marlon Moraes at the RAF event in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, November 14. However, his participation remained uncertain following the hotel altercation.

RAF co-founder Chad Bronstein said the promotion was working with local authorities and hoped Dvalishvili would still compete.

He also confirmed that Usman Nurmagomedov would not attend the event.

Umar Nurmagomedov, Usman's older brother and another former opponent of Dvalishvili, is scheduled to face American fighter Urijah Faber at the same event. His participation was also reported to be uncertain following the incident.

Dvalishvili defeated Umar in January 2025 to retain his UFC bantamweight title. The rivalry between the fighters' camps has since been marked by public exchanges and confrontations.

Usman Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, remains the PFL lightweight champion and has been linked with a possible move to the UFC, although his immediate participation in the Abu Dhabi event has been ruled out by RAF organisers.