Abu Dhabi police confirm 10 arrests after Nurmagomedov-Dvalishvili hotel brawl, including two who filmed viral footage

Abu Dhabi police have arrested eight people involved in the hotel brawl and two others accused of filming and sharing footage of the incident/ Image: X Police in Abu Dhabi have confirmed the arrest of 10 people following a high-profile brawl involving Usman Nurmagomedov, former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and members of their respective camps. The confrontation erupted in a hotel lobby on Thursday, just two days before Real American Freestyle (RAF) holds its first ever event in Abu Dhabi and its Middle East debut on November 14. The arrest raised questions about the fighters’ participation in the historic card and the potential legal ramifications for those involved.

Usman Nurmagomedov approaches Dvalishvili during a hotel interview

The incident took place on Thursday 11 November at the Yas Hilton Hotel in Abu Dhabi, where former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili was giving an interview ahead of his appearance at RAF Abu Dhabi. The Georgian was talking to Saba Lazishvili in the hotel lobby when Usman Nurmagomedov approached with members of his entourage.Footage shared widely on social media shows Nurmagomedov walking up to Dvalishvili from behind before exchanging words with him and punching him across the face. A fight then broke out between the two groups, Nurmagomedov and his companions on one side and Dvalishvili and Lazishvili on the other.Dvalishvili later posted videos showing his bloodied face and undergoing medical treatment for a cut. He claimed he and his younger friend were attacked by a much larger group and said hotel security prevented him from reacting while the other group continued the attack.“He was doing an interview for the RAF in the hotel lobby and Usman and his friends came from behind and started punching me and my young friend,” Dvalishvili wrote in a caption on the social network. “The security kept me down – they kept kicking us when we were down like losers.The Georgian also described the confrontation as a “sneaky” attack, claiming he and his friend were confronted by around 20 people. Footage and his posts showed the aftermath, including facial injuries.

Abu Dhabi Police confirmed the arrest

Police in Abu Dhabi confirmed on Thursday evening that 10 people had been arrested in connection with the incident. Eight were identified as being involved in the fight, while two others were arrested for filming it. All were referred to the public prosecutor’s office for further legal proceedings.In their official statement, the force said:“Following previous disputes, the Abu Dhabi General Police was able to arrest 8 people involved in a fight that took place at the entrance of one of the hotels. They also managed to arrest the two people who filmed the incident, took the necessary legal action against them and referred them to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to complete the procedures in accordance with the applicable laws.”The details of the incident revolve around a fight that took place at the entrance of one of the hotels following previous disputes between several individuals. Specialized teams from the Abu Dhabi Police immediately began their procedures to deal with the incident and were able to arrest those involved, in addition to arresting the two people who filmed the fight and taking the necessary legal action against them.Abu Dhabi Police emphasized its commitment to maintaining safety and public order and to deal firmly with behavior that may compromise safety or endanger the safety of others, and emphasized the importance of obeying laws and regulations and adopting civilized and responsible behavior.National stated that Dvalishvili was not the person who made the allegations, with the police being alerted as the incident occurred in public and was caught on camera. Authorities confirmed the arrests but did not identify those detained at the time of writing, so it is unclear whether Usman Nurmagomedov, Umar Nurmagomedov or Merab Dvalishvili were among those arrested.The arrests followed reports that Nurmagomedov and members of his group had been detained and questioned. MMA journalist Ariel Helwani wrote on X: “At the time of writing, all those involved in the hotel brawl are still being held by local authorities, I’m told.”UFC fighter Ilia Topuria, a close friend of Dvalishvili, also claimed that Nurmagomedov was detained, writing: “he was allegedly detained along with the cowards who were with him”.“I always thought you were a bunch of mediocre individuals. Now you have removed all last doubts. Honor, respect and humility are not words you preach. They are values ​​you live by. And you have shown none of them.”

Why do these two camps have a history of enmity

The confrontation was not an isolated disagreement between the fighters who met at the hotel. A series of feuds between Dvalishvili and members of Nurmagomedov’s camp followed, with tensions dating back to their January 2025 UFC rivalry.Dvalishvili defeated Umar Nurmagomedov, Usman’s older brother, by unanimous decision at UFC 311 on January 18, 2025, retaining his bantamweight championship. It was the first successful defense of his title and the first professional defeat of Umar’s career. The contest was also named Fight of the Night.Animosity developed before they entered the Octagon. Dvališvili publicly called Umar “spoiled” and accused him of disrespect, remarks that contributed to an increasingly bitter exchange between the two camps. The rivalry did not end with the victory of the Georgian, and subsequent encounters outside the UFC intensified the personal nature of the dispute.Tensions resurfaced at the Real American Freestyle event in Georgia later in July 2025. Dvalishvili was involved in a backstage altercation with Umar’s associate during which he slapped one of the Dagestani fighter’s friends. The incident sparked further exchanges between the camps.UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev later claimed that the confrontation was in retaliation for Dvalishvili punching a Dagestani wrestler and insulting his mother.The incident in Abu Dhabi now brings Usman Nurmagomedov directly into the confrontation. Unlike Umar, he did not fight Dvalishvili in the UFC, but his involvement in the hotel brawl drew attention due to his relationship with the former bantamweight champion’s previous opponent and the history between their groups.

Why was Usman Nurmagomedov in Abu Dhabi

Nurmagomedov, 28, was in Abu Dhabi to support his older brother Umar, rather than compete on the RAF card. Umar is scheduled to fight former UFC champion Urijah Faber on Saturday, November 14 at the Etihad Arena in the organization’s first event in the Middle East.Dvalishvili is also scheduled to fight on the card, facing Marlon Moraes in a catchweight crossover bout.The 28-year-old Russian is one of the most prominent lightweight fighters outside of the UFC and is currently a free agent after completing his contract with the Professional Fighters League. He won 22 of his 23 professional contests, with the remaining bout being recorded as a no contest.

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Usman Nurmagomedov.

Nurmagomedov previously won and defended the Bellator lightweight championship twice before claiming the vacant PFL lightweight title in a rematch against Paul Hughes. He subsequently stopped Alfie Davis and Archie Colgan in title defences, with his last appearance coming in July with a first-round knockout of Colgan.His contract situation has already made him one of the most watched names in sports. Nurmagomedov reportedly turned down a $2 million offer to re-sign with the PFL, and the organization’s 90-day exclusive negotiating period expired on October 29. He is subsequently expected to attract interest from the UFC as he considers his next move.UFC president Dana White acknowledged the organization’s interest when asked about the possibility of signing him last month. “We are interested,” White told The National.The hotel incident now comes at a sensitive point in Nurmagomedov’s career, with his free agent status and potential move to the UFC already drawing attention. His involvement in the altercation and the police action that followed could become another factor surrounding his next professional move.

The RAF faces questions ahead of Saturday’s event

The timing of the scramble could hardly be worse for the RAF, with it set to host its first event in Abu Dhabi and its Middle East debut on 14 November. Dvalishvili is set to face Marlon Moraes, while Umar Nurmagomedov is set to face Urijah Faber. However, the arrests and ongoing police investigation have made the availability of both fighters a concern in the immediate run-up to Saturday’s card.The RAF is expected to address the incident at Thursday’s pre-event press conference, with its officials set to provide the organization with a response ahead of Saturday’s card. The event is the first in the Middle East to feature Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov. It remains unclear whether their participation will affect the confrontation or subsequent police proceedings.