🚨🇦🇪 Usman Nurmagomedov could face up to TWO YEAR IN PRISON following the violent brawl with Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi! 😳 Under Article 390 of UAE law, an assault conviction can carry a sentence of up to two year behind bars and a fine of around $2,700. And here's where things get even more serious: authorities may be able to pursue the case using video evidence, even without Merab filing a complaint. Article 392 also provides additional penalties for certain assaults involving groups of three or more people.
Usman Nurmagomedov could face criminal prosecution in the United Arab Emirates after a violent brawl with Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi, according to a legal breakdown now circulating around the case.
Under Article 390 of UAE law, an assault conviction can carry a prison sentence of up to two years and a fine of roughly $2,700. The reported analysis adds that authorities may be able to pursue the case using video evidence alone, even if Dvalishvili does not file a complaint. Article 392 also provides additional penalties for certain assaults involving groups of three or more people.
No charges have been announced, and the story concerns what Nurmagomedov could face rather than anything filed against him.
Nurmagomedov, 27, is unbeaten at 22-0 and ranks 14th in the pound-for-pound list. The Russian stands five-foot-eleven with a 71-inch reach. He lands 0.33 significant strikes per minute at 52.78 percent accuracy, and averages 0.65 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Dvalishvili, 35, is the number one bantamweight contender and sits second pound-for-pound. The Georgian, who trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team, is 21-6 and is known for relentless wrestling: he averages 5.74 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 4.48 significant strikes per minute at 41 percent accuracy.
His most recent recorded fight came on October 24, 2026, at UFC 333, where he lost a unanimous decision to Petr Yan in a title fight. That was his second straight defeat to Yan, following a unanimous decision loss at UFC 323 on December 6, 2025. Before that, he beat Cory Sandhagen by unanimous decision at UFC 320 on October 4, 2025.
The two fighters sit in different physical frames. Nurmagomedov is five inches taller than Dvalishvili (180 cm to 168 cm) and has a 7 cm reach advantage (180 cm to 173 cm). Dvalishvili is eight years older.
Why it matters
- A criminal case could complicate both fighters' schedules and travel, particularly in a country that regularly hosts UFC events.
- Authorities pursuing the matter from video evidence alone would mean the outcome does not hinge on Dvalishvili's cooperation.
- Nurmagomedov's unbeaten record and top-15 pound-for-pound standing make any legal trouble a significant factor in his career trajectory.
