White Condemns Hotel Brawl as RAF Abu Dhabi Card Wobbles

Usman Nurmagomedov was seen as a top free-agent target for the UFC. Now he is among those arrested in Abu Dhabi, he is banned from Saturday's RAF card, and UFC president Dana White has condemned the episode.

The contract question behind the headline

Nurmagomedov recently finished his PFL contract. That made him a top free-agent target for the UFC. Dana White said the UFC has held no discussions with the fighter.

White also pointed to the rules of the market. Nurmagomedov is still inside an exclusive negotiating period with the PFL. In plain terms, that is a window after a contract ends in which the old promotion alone may bargain with the fighter. Rival offers have to wait until it closes.

How long that window lasts is unclear, and so is any effect of the hotel fight on either promotion.

What White said and where

White spoke on Thursday at the UFC 334 pre-fight press conference. He did not hold back about the incident or about the fighters who took part, per MMA Fighting.

That report carries a headline with his reaction in strong language: he called those involved "a bunch of f*cking idiots", as MMA Fighting titled its piece.

A card that may have to change

RAF Abu Dhabi is set for Saturday, and the fight puts it under pressure. Merab Dvalishvili was scheduled to face Marlon Moraes. Umar Nurmagomedov was due to meet Urijah Faber.

RAF officials have banned Usman Nurmagomedov from the event. The status of the other fighters is unclear.

How the lobby fight unfolded

The altercation began on Tuesday in a hotel lobby. Usman Nurmagomedov approached Dvalishvili while he was giving an interview and slapped him. A melee followed, meaning a chaotic brawl with several people, and security had to step in.

Abu Dhabi police arrested everyone involved. That included people who were recording the incident. Nurmagomedov and Dvalishvili were among those held.

On Thursday, the police issued a statement confirming the arrests. It gave no timeline for when the detained might be freed.

Source: Boxingnews.com