An Abu Dhabi court sentenced 10 people over a fight that broke out in the lobby of a hotel on Yas Island between former UFC bantamweight champion Georgian Merab Dvalishvili and Russian PFL champion Usman Nurmagomedov and their teams, ahead of a wrestling event organized by Real American Freestyle (RAF).
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department said the court sentenced the defendants to six months in prison, fined each of them AED 300,000 and ordered their deportation. Usman Nurmagomedov was among six people who received these sentences. Two others received the same punishment for violating privacy by filming and publishing the fight; their phones were confiscated and the footage was deleted.
Fine and release
Dvalishvili and his teammate Saba Lazishvili were each fined AED 50,000 and released early Friday after being detained for nearly two days. NDTV reported that RAF paid Dvalishvili's fine.
After his release, Dvalishvili said: "I want everyone to know that I have been released and that I am well and in good health and ready for the fight. I thank everyone in Abu Dhabi for helping resolve this matter. I love visiting Abu Dhabi and am happy to be welcomed here." He added: "I hope everyone is released. I will not file a complaint. I wish peace and goodness to everyone."
Slap in hotel lobby
The incident occurred on November 11 in the lobby of the Hilton Yas hotel, where Dvalishvili was giving an interview ahead of the event. Widely circulated footage showed Nurmagomedov approaching him from behind and slapping him in the face, triggering a fight between the two groups.
The RAF event will take place on Saturday, November 14, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Dvalishvili will face Brazil's Marlon Moraes in a wrestling match. Lazishvili will also replace Umar Nurmagomedov, Usman's brother, in a bout against American Urijah Faber after organizers removed Umar from the lineup despite his not taking part in the fight. The organization confirmed that Usman will not attend the event.
Photos: Merab Dvalishvili, Yahoo Sports. Sources: Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, Reuters, NDTV, The National
