Usman Nurmagomedov, Teammates Hit With Six-Month Prison Sentences and Heavy Fines

A chaotic hotel lobby brawl in Abu Dhabi has turned into a massive legal headache for former PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov and his friends.

Following Wednesday’s violent altercation at a Yas Island hotel, an Abu Dhabi court has reportedly sentenced Nurmagomedov and five members of his entourage to six months in prison, hit each of them with a hefty 300,000 AED fine (roughly $81,700) and ordered their deportation once those terms are completed. Even two bystanders who filmed and uploaded footage of the melee on social media were handed identical six-month jail sentences, 300,000 AED fines and deportation orders under the United Arab Emirates' strict cybercrime and privacy laws, with authorities confiscating their phones.

Meanwhile, former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, who was ambushed by the group while conducting a media interview ahead of Saturday’s Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling event, has been released after paying a 50,000 AED fine and rejoined the promotion's team in Abu Dhabi.

Whether Usman actually ends up serving time remains to be seen, because his cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov is very well connected in the UAE. It will be interesting to see if he does serve time.

Fallout From a Bitter Rivalry

The ambush didn't come out of nowhere. Bad blood between Dvalishvili (21-6) and the Dagestani camp has been simmering ever since the Georgian standout handed Usman’s older brother, Umar Nurmagomedov, a unanimous decision loss at UFC 311 in January 2025, a rivalry that flared back up during a recent confrontation ahead of RAF Georgia.

Now, the consequences could stretch far beyond a jail cell. Usman (20-0, 1 NC) has been heavily linked with a jump to the UFC once his current PFL deal expires, and UFC CEO Dana White has already ripped the incident as "f***ing idiotic." Between potential deportation hurdles, strained relationships with UAE officials, and a massive stain on his reputation, Nurmagomedov’s outside-the-cage impulse may end up costing him far more than $81,700.