Ten arrested after hotel brawl involving UFC fighter Merab Dvalishvili

Ten people have been arrested after a group assault involving UFC fighter Merab Dvalishvili at a hotel in Abu Dhabi, an incident captured in video footage.

The confrontation took place at a Hilton on Yas Island, where Dvalishvili was in town ahead of a wrestling event scheduled for Saturday. He said he was being interviewed by wrestling promotion RAF when Usman Nurmagomedov approached him.

In footage said to have been recorded by someone with Nurmagomedov’s group, the undefeated fighter appears to say something to Dvalishvili and then slap him. Dvalishvili steps back and raises his arms to protect his head. Two other men then appear to join the attack, and the encounter grows into a larger brawl.

Abu Dhabi police said the fight stemmed from earlier disputes among several people and took place near a hotel entrance. They confirmed that 10 people had been arrested and said they would take firm action against conduct that endangers public safety or disturbs public order.

Dvalishvili later posted a video showing injuries he said he suffered in the assault. He accused Nurmagomedov and his associates of approaching him from behind and questioned their conduct as fighters.

Both Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov’s older brother, Umar, are scheduled to compete at Saturday’s RAF event.

The incident drew criticism from UFC champion Ilia Topuria, who said Nurmagomedov had reportedly been detained. Topuria described the group as cowardly and said their actions showed a lack of honor, respect, and humility.

UFC champion Islam Makhachev defended Nurmagomedov and his associates. He argued that Dvalishvili had previously insulted and struck a Dagestani wrestler, and said the latest confrontation began with an earlier incident in Georgia.

Makhachev was referring to a July altercation in which video appeared to show Dvalishvili slapping a training partner of Nurmagomedov during a separate group scuffle.