UFC: eight people face prison for the massive fight between Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili

Eight people were sentenced to prison terms for their part in a massive brawl involving MMA fighters Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili at an Abu Dhabi hotel on Wednesday.

Video of the incident appears to show Russian Nurmagomedov slapping former UFC bantamweight champion Dvalishvili after approaching the Georgian from behind.

Fighting then broke out between the two men and members of their teams, with Abu Dhabi Police later confirming that the incident led to 10 arrests.

According to a social media post by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, all 10 defendants were found guilty for their roles in the brawl.

A report from Abu Dhabi news newspaper, The National, external went into more detail, adding that six of the defendants were sentenced to six months in prison, fined £62,000 each and deported after serving their sentences.

He added that they were found guilty of “disturbing public security, causing panic and endangering lives.”

Two other people were sentenced to the same sentence, but for “violation of privacy by using information technology to film and publish images of the fight”.

The other two defendants were fined £10,200 each for “disturbing public safety and assaulting others”.

None of the defendants have yet been named, but Real American Freestyle (RAF) co-founder Chad Bronstein said Dvalishvili has been released.

“I am happy to announce that Merab Dvalishvili is back with us in Abu Dhabi,” Bronstein said in a statement.

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi for their professionalism and support.

“We remain focused on the future and are delighted to have Merab back with us.”

BBC Sport has requested confirmation from the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.

Dvalishvili, 35, is expected to compete in the RAF event in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday against Brazilian Marlon Moraes.

Dvalishvili posted a video after the incident calling Nurmagomedov, 28, and his team “snakes” as he received treatment on his bloodied face.

Nurmagomedov is in Abu Dhabi to support his brother Umar, who was scheduled to face American Urijah Faber in Saturday’s event.

However, Umar was replaced in the fight by Dvalishvili’s teammate Saba Lazishvili, who was also involved in the mass brawl but appears to have been released.

Nurmagomedov and Dvalishvili’s teams previously had an altercation at an RAF event in July, which UFC champion Islam Makhachev — a close friend and training partner of the Nurmagomedovs — said led to Wednesday’s brawl.

Nurmagomedov is the PFL lightweight champion but is out of contract after winning his last fight with the organization in July.

He has been heavily linked with a move to the UFC, but on Friday promotion president Dana White said he had not spoken to the Russian.

White later called the altercation “ridiculous” and “stupid,” and called the participants a “bunch of idiots.”