Usman Nurmagomedov Sentenced to Six Months in Abu Dhabi

Nurmagomedov and five others were sentenced to six months in prison for their roles in a fight with Dvalishvili and his friend, Saba Lazishvili, at a fighter hotel in Abu Dhabi. The group will also pay fines of 300,000 UAE dirhams each, about $82,000, and face deportation after serving their terms, according to a statement from Abu Dhabi’s judicial department.

Footage of the confrontation circulated online. It appeared to show Nurmagomedov striking Dvalishvili before a larger fight broke out. Dvalishvili said he had been speaking with RAF at the hotel when Nurmagomedov and others approached and attacked him and his friend. Authorities detained everyone involved.

Two people who recorded and published footage of the fight also received six-month prison sentences and fines of 300,000 dirhams each for violating privacy, the first report said. Dvalishvili and Lazishvili were fined 50,000 dirhams apiece for disturbing public security and assaulting others, then released from custody.

Nurmagomedov, 28, is a free agent after completing his PFL contract in July. He defended the promotion’s lightweight title with a first-round finish of Alfie Davis and has a 22-0 professional record. The PFL has a period to pursue a new deal before he can negotiate with other organizations; a move to the UFC had been discussed by fans.