Usman Nurmagomedov reportedly among eight sentenced to six months in jail in Abu Dhabi
Six defendants were each fined Dh300,000 and face deportation after serving their sentences, while two others were fined Dh50,000 without jail. Merab Dvalishvili has been released from custody.
Usman Nurmagomedov is among eight people reportedly sentenced to six months in prison in Abu Dhabi over the hotel-lobby brawl with Merab Dvalishvili, MMA Fighting reported on Friday. It cited The National News, which reported the sentences following a post from the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. CBS Sports counted Nurmagomedov and five others.
Six defendants, who were not named in the report, were sentenced to six months for disturbing public security, causing panic and endangering lives. Each was fined Dh300,000 (about $80,000) and is set to be deported from the United Arab Emirates after serving the sentence.
The two people who filmed the brawl were also sentenced to six months in prison, fined Dh300,000 each and ordered to be deported, for violating privacy by using information technology to film and publish footage of it.
Two others were fined Dh50,000 for disturbing public security and assaulting others, but avoided jail. MMA Fighting's report said Dvalishvili was fined and avoided jail time.
Real American Freestyle said on Friday that Dvalishvili is out of custody. "I'm pleased to share that Merab Dvalishvili is back with us in Abu Dhabi," RAF chief executive Chad Bronstein said in a statement. MMA Fighting reported that Dvalishvili's status for Saturday's RAF Abu Dhabi bout against Marlon Moraes is still to be confirmed.
Dvalishvili was doing an interview at the Yas Hilton on Wednesday when Nurmagomedov and his associates approached him from behind and slapped him in the face, starting a brawl that left Dvalishvili and his friend Saba Lazishvili injured, MMA Fighting reported. Nurmagomedov, the undefeated former PFL lightweight champion, was in the UAE to coach his brother Umar Nurmagomedov, who was booked to wrestle Urijah Faber on Saturday's card.
RAF banned Nurmagomedov from attending the event after the brawl. Asked about Abu Dhabi at Thursday's UFC 334 press conference, Dana White said "they're all in jail".
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