The two fighters had been held for two days following a clash with Russian fighter Usman Nurmagomedov and members of his entourage in a hotel lobby. Both are scheduled to compete at the RAF tournament on 14 November, News Georgia reports.
In a statement posted on X, Bronstein expressed gratitude to the Abu Dhabi authorities for their professionalism and assistance in securing Dvalishvili’s release. Sports journalist Ariel Helwani reported that the RAF co-founder had personally liaised with local authorities and was present at the detention facility when the Georgian fighters were released.
Meanwhile, The National, citing the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, reported that 10 people had been convicted in connection with the hotel brawl. Eight received prison sentences, fines and deportation orders to be enforced after they had served their terms, while two others were fined.
Six people were sentenced to six months in prison and fined 300,000 dirhams (approximately $81,600) each for endangering public safety, causing panic and threatening people’s lives.
Two others received the same prison sentence and fine, along with deportation orders, for violating privacy by filming the incident and distributing the footage. The court also ordered their phones to be confiscated and the recordings deleted.
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The remaining two were fined 50,000 dirhams (approximately $13,600) each for endangering public safety and assaulting others.
The National did not identify those convicted or specify which sentences were handed down to particular individuals. Earlier, Georgian media reported that Dvalishvili and Lazishvili had each been ordered to pay a fine of 50,000 dirhams, with RAF expected to cover the costs. Georgian media also reported that Nurmagomedov and members of his team had received six-month prison sentences.
According to News Georgia, the incident took place on the evening of 11 November, when Dvalishvili was in the UAE ahead of the RAF tournament and giving an interview. Nurmagomedov reportedly approached him accompanied by several other people. Footage circulated online shows the Russian fighter striking Dvalishvili, triggering a mass brawl, the report said.
On 12 November, Abu Dhabi police announced the arrest of 10 people: eight for their involvement in the fight and two for filming the incident.
Georgian officials also intervened in the case. On 13 November, Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili held a phone call with her UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Following the fighters’ release, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze thanked Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili and Interior Minister Sulkhan Tamazashvili for their prompt coordination, as well as those who covered the fighters’ legal expenses and fines. He also expressed gratitude to the UAE authorities, saying the court had reached a fair decision both in releasing the Georgian fighters and in dealing with those who attacked them.
Dvalishvili is scheduled to face Brazilian fighter Marlon Moraes at the 14 November RAF tournament. Lazishvili, whose participation had not originally been planned, will replace Usman Nurmagomedov in a bout against American fighter Urijah Faber.
The fight will mark the 21-year-old Georgian’s debut in the American organisation. His involvement in the 11 November brawl, during which he was accompanying Dvalishvili, has brought him considerable attention. His Instagram following reportedly increased by 600,000 in just a few days.
Bronstein previously announced that Nurmagomedov had been banned from attending the RAF event. The Russian fighter was not originally scheduled to compete in the tournament. His brother, Umar Nurmagomedov, had been due to face Faber in Abu Dhabi.
