MMA BRAWL IN ABU DHABI HOTEL LOBBY ENDS WITH MULTIPLE ARRESTS

Merab Dvalishvili was standing in the lobby of the Yas Hilton on Wednesday giving an interview, which is the most harmless thing a fighter does all week. Usman Nurmagomedov walked up behind him with his guys, said something, and slapped him across the face. Both camps went at it until security pulled them apart, and Dvalishvili walked away bloodied and needing treatment for a cut on his face. Abu Dhabi Police were not charmed. They arrested eight people from the fight, then arrested the two people who filmed it, which gets you to 10 and explains why nobody in the UAE posts anything. The case went to prosecutors. Dvalishvili was reportedly released early Friday after RAF co-founder Chad Bronstein spent two days working the local authorities. The beef is not new. Dvalishvili beat Usman's brother Umar by unanimous decision at UFC 311 in January 2025, and the camps have been circling each other since. Daniel Cormier, who is about as Team Khabib as a man can be, said watching the video was sad and that Usman is in real trouble. Islam Makhachev defended the family. Ilia Topuria called everyone involved cowards. RAF banned Usman from Saturday's card in Abu Dhabi, a card he was not even fighting on. He flew in to support Umar against Urijah Faber and got himself thrown out of a wrestling show.

Why you should give a shit: Usman is a free agent who reportedly turned down $2 million from the PFL while the UFC circled, and he spent the biggest negotiating week of his life getting processed by Abu Dhabi police instead.