MMA: six months in prison for a Russian fighter after a violent fight in Abu Dhabi

Madness... Two days after the violent fight between Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvilli in an Abu Dhabi hotel, this Friday, November 13, the Emirati justice system handed down several heavy sentences. Six people received six months in prison, fines of 300,000 dirhams (around 74,000 euros) each and expulsion from the territory after their sentence. Two others were fined 50,000 (around 12,300 euros) dirhams, while two people who filmed and broadcast the scene received the same prison sentences, fines and expulsions as the first six defendants.

“What kind of men do that?”

The altercation took place this Wednesday, on the sidelines of a wrestling event organized by Real American Freestyle (RAF). Merab Dvalishvilli was then in the hotel lobby, where, according to his account, he gave an interview to the organizers. Then that’s when Usman Nurmagomedov and several members of his entourage allegedly approached from behind. In the videos posted on social networks, the Russian appears to slap the Georgian, triggering a general fight in which members of each clan were able to participate.

With a bloody face, the interviewee and former UFC champion quickly denounced a surprise attack. “I was doing an interview for the RAF when Usman and his friends came from behind and started hitting me and my young friend,” he explained, claiming to have been beaten while he was on the ground. “What kind of fighters are you? What kind of men do that?” he said indignantly. The ten protagonists were arrested by the Aboudabienne police.