Abu Dhabi Police Arrest 10 After Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili Yas Hilton Brawl

A promotional lobby interview dissolved into outright chaos in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. Abu Dhabi Police moved in fast, arresting 10 individuals after Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov and former UFC bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili threw hands in a violent, multi-man scuffle inside the Yas Hilton. Eight fighters and entourage members were cuffed on the spot. Two bystanders who pulled out mobile phones to film the fracas were hauled into custody alongside them.

Ten people in lockup. A marquee fight week thrown into absolute turmoil.

The clash erupted just two days before Real American Freestyle (RAF) stages its inaugural Middle East card on November 14. The arrests immediately cast severe doubt over both athletes' scheduled participation, dragging high-profile mixed martial artists straight from the fight bubble into the jurisdiction of the UAE's no-nonsense legal system.

Ambush at the Yas Hilton

Dvalishvili was seated for an interview ahead of RAF Abu Dhabi on Thursday, November 11, speaking calmly on camera with Saba Lazishvili in the hotel lobby. Then came the disruption. Usman Nurmagomedov marched up from behind, surrounded by an entourage. Heated words cut through the room. Seconds later, Nurmagomedov slapped Dvalishvili clean across the face.

All hell broke loose. Punches flew instantly. Nurmagomedov and his camp swarmed, trading blows with Dvalishvili and Lazishvili as bystanders scattered. Hotel security intervened, struggling to physically pin back the surging combatants.

Dvalishvili emerged battered and bleeding from a facial laceration that required immediate medical attention. He took straight to social media to voice his fury, accusing Nurmagomedov’s team of launching a coordinated strike against him and his companion while hotel staff restrained his arms.

Dvalishvili labeled the exchange a "sneaky" ambush, claiming he and Lazishvili were forced to fight off roughly 20 people simultaneously.

Police Crackdown and Prosecution Referral

Local authorities showed zero tolerance for public disorder. Abu Dhabi Police confirmed Thursday evening that officers swept in, neutralized the clash, and referred all 10 detainees directly to the Public Prosecution for formal legal processing. Dvalishvili did not press private charges; under UAE law, law enforcement took unilateral action because the brawl detonated in a public hotel concourse and spread across digital networks.

Police officials issued a strict decree regarding the operation:

The force stressed its unbending commitment to public safety, noting that specialized investigative teams moved instantly to contain the disturbance and enforce regulations against unlawful public violence.

Bad Blood Spills Over from UFC 311

This was no random flashpoint. The feud between the Georgian champion and the Dagestani camp has simmered with raw animosity since early 2025.

Dvalishvili dismantled Usman's older brother, Umar Nurmagomedov, at UFC 311 on January 18, 2025. He took a hard-fought unanimous decision to successfully retain his UFC bantamweight crown, fracturing the Dagestani contender's undefeated aura and igniting months of bitter verbal sparring across camps. That bad blood boiled over the instant the entourages crossed paths under the Yas Hilton lights.

Fellow UFC world champion Ilia Topuria—a long-time confidant of Dvalishvili—blasted the Nurmagomedov camp on social media after word of the scuffle and subsequent police detentions broke.

Both camps now wait on the gavel. With all 10 individuals in custody and referred to the Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution, state prosecutors will decide whether criminal charges, fines, or deportation proceedings take precedence before RAF can even contemplate clearing its fighters for Saturday's showcase.