Usman
Nurmagomedov will not be allowed to attend Real American
Freestyle’s Abu Dhabi event Saturday following a hotel altercation
involving Merab
Dvalishvili and members of both camps, RAF co-founder Chad
Bronstein said Thursday.
Abu Dhabi Police said they arrested eight people in connection with
the fight and two others who filmed it. Police did not identify
those arrested, leaving it unclear whether Nurmagomedov or
Dvalishvili was among them.
RAF co-founder Chad Bronstein confirms Usman Nurmagomedov
cannot attend as Abu Dhabi Police report 10 arrests
Footage that surfaced Wednesday appeared to show Nurmagomedov and
several members of his team approaching Dvalishvili from behind as
the former UFC bantamweight champion gave an interview at the
hotel. Nurmagomedov appeared to strike Dvalishvili before the
confrontation escalated into a brawl.
Bronstein said RAF did not condone the incident.
“We’re hoping that the situation gets resolved, sooner than later,”
Bronstein said at Thursday’s press conference. “And obviously,
Usman will not be attending our event on Saturday night.”
Abu Dhabi Police said in a statement Thursday:
“The General Command of Abu Dhabi Police was able to arrest 8
persons involved in a fight that took place at the entrance of a
hotel, on the background of previous differences between them, they
also managed to arrest two persons who filmed the incident, take
the necessary legal actions on their right, and refer them to the
General Prosecutor to complete the proceedings in accordance with
the laws enacted by it.”
Dvalishvili is scheduled to face Marlon
Moraes in a wrestling match at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14, while
Umar
Nurmagomedov is booked against Urijah
Faber. Neither Dvalishvili nor Umar
Nurmagomedov attended Thursday’s press conference, and their
status for Saturday remained uncertain.