Dana White Blasts Nurmagomedov-Dvalishvili Brawl as Abu Dhabi Makes 10 Arrests

UFC president Dana White has not held back in his reaction to the scuffle in Abu Dhabi involving Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili. White called the people involved "f***ing idiots," a blunt verdict that reflects how seriously the promotion is taking the episode. Police arrested 10 people following the incident, which has moved well beyond the usual fight-week chatter.

White's criticism is aimed at the conduct itself rather than at any single bout. The altercation has created uncertainty around upcoming RAF bouts, and it has also reopened the question of whether Nurmagomedov has a future in the UFC. On that point, White was clear: Nurmagomedov remains under contract with the PFL, which limits what any move could look like in the near term.

Both fighters are well known in the sport, so the story has drawn attention from fans and observers far beyond the usual MMA audience. Any incident involving a public brawl in a foreign city, with arrests on the record, tends to raise questions about security, accountability and the reputations of everyone involved.

Several things are worth watching from here. The first is whether either fighter or their camp issues a public response that addresses what happened. The second is whether the PFL or the UFC takes any formal action, though White's remarks suggest the promotions have already made their views known. The third is what happens to the RAF schedule, since uncertainty over those bouts is the most immediate practical consequence. Until there are firmer updates, the main confirmed facts are the arrests, White's condemnation and the contract situation he described.