Dana White on Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili brawl: 'They're all in jail'

Asked about Abu Dhabi at the UFC 334 press conference, White called it "absolutely ridiculous and stupid", named nobody and moved straight on to the next question.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Fri 13 Nov, 00:16 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Dana White speaks at the UFC 334 press conference in New York — Photo: UFC

Dana White said "they're all in jail" when asked about the brawl between Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi, at the UFC 334 press conference in New York on Thursday.

A reporter asked the UFC CEO for his reaction or any updates on what is going on in Abu Dhabi. White replied: "It's absolutely ridiculous and stupid, and they're all in jail, and that is not a place to go f*ck around."

He did not say who he meant or give any further detail, and went straight to the next reporter: "Go ahead, who's got the next question?"

Nurmagomedov slapped Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday while the former UFC bantamweight champion was giving an interview, days before RAF Abu Dhabi. Members of Nurmagomedov's team, including his brother Umar Nurmagomedov, joined in before the fighters were pulled apart.

Manager Ali Abdelaziz has apologised to the city of Abu Dhabi over the brawl, and Daniel Cormier has said Nurmagomedov is in big trouble because of it.

White was on stage between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit, who meet for the UFC heavyweight title at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. The UFC 334 main card starts at 2am UK time on Sunday on TNT Sports.

In this story

Merab Dvalishvili Umar Nurmagomedov Ciryl Gane Josh Hokit