Dana White Slams Usman Nurmagomedov as Abu Dhabi Police Arrest 10 After Hotel Brawl

Dana White pulled no punches. The UFC president tore into Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili on Thursday, November 12, after an explosive hotel brawl in the United Arab Emirates ended with 10 people behind bars.

Blood hit the carpet. Tempers flared. Now the law has stepped in.

Abu Dhabi Police moved swiftly following the Wednesday melee, arresting eight individuals for violent affray and detaining another two for filming the confrontation. Authorities transferred all 10 suspects to the Public Prosecution. While municipal officials withheld the formal roster of names in custody, the fallout tore straight through combat sports circles.

White addressed the mayhem from the podium during Thursday's UFC 334 pre-fight press conference, dispensing with diplomatic varnish.

White doubled down moments later. He made clear that street theatrics carry zero commercial appeal inside modern combat sports.

"That stuff is never good for business," White explained. "It makes everyone involved look bad. It’s unfortunate. Now they’re all in jail in Abu Dhabi. We’ll see how that goes."

Hotel Melee Sparks 10 Arrests in the Emirates

The flashpoint erupted Wednesday inside an Abu Dhabi luxury hotel. Dvalishvili sat mid-interview ahead of the Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling debut. Then Nurmagomedov walked up.

Words turned physical within seconds. Video recorded at the scene showed the Russian lightweight advancing on Dvalishvili before connecting with an open-hand slap to the face. The lobby detonated. Entourages collided, furniture shifted, and staff scrambled to contain a multi-man scuffle.

Dvalishvili quickly posted footage showing deep gashes across his face. The Georgian champion claimed that Nurmagomedov and a wave of corner allies ambushed him and a teammate.

RAF brass swung the axe immediately. Promotion co-founder Chad Bronstein announced a total ban barring Usman from attending Saturday's card. Yet questions hang over the scheduled headline matches. Dvalishvili is booked to grapple Marlon Moraes on Saturday, November 14, while Usman’s brother, Umar Nurmagomedov, holds a card slot against UFC veteran Urijah Faber.

Umar reportedly joined the hotel scuffle, leaving matchmakers sweating over whether local authorities will clear either fighter to step onto the mat.

Bad Blood, Octagon Clashes, and Cage Crashes

This feud did not ignite out of thin air. It has festered inside the cage for nearly a year.

Dvalishvili defended his undisputed UFC bantamweight crown against Umar Nurmagomedov in early 2025, grinding out a unanimous points victory. The Dagestani camp took the loss hard. Umar suffered another brutal setback in August, dropping via knockout to Chinese sensation Song Yadong.

Chaos followed that stoppage. As Song sprinted around the perimeter of the cage to celebrate, Usman hurdled the fencing and threw a flying elbow at the victor. Observers debated whether the strike was an intentional assault or reckless momentum, but regulators took note. Wednesday’s hotel scrap firmly cemented a pattern of extracurricular violence.

PFL Contract Lock and the UFC Chill

The timing deals a direct blow to Usman Nurmagomedov’s commercial trajectory. The 27-year-old cousin of Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov has built an unblemished record, leading many analysts to rank him among the sharpest lightweight talents competing outside the Octagon. Rumors had linked him directly with a jump to the UFC.

White shut that door with a loud bang.

"He’s still under contract [with the PFL]," White told reporters. "We’re not talking him right now anyway."

Industry insiders believed Nurmagomedov had already reached open-market free agency following his championship run. White's blunt posture confirmed otherwise. By affirming Nurmagomedov’s binding deal with the Professional Fighters League, the UFC boss extinguished chatter of a blockbuster signing.

Now the legal machinery grinds forward in Abu Dhabi. State prosecutors are reviewing surveillance video and mobile recordings from the hotel lobby. Until prosecutors decide whether to press formal felony charges or issue deportation orders, Saturday’s RAF showcase remains paralyzed by the actions of an uncontrolled entourage.