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Nov 13, 2026, 2:11 PM GMT
After deciding late that he wanted a career in sports journalism, Daniel worked his way up the ladder in an unconventional manner.
Having opted against university, Daniel worked with Sky Sports as a freelance contributor and translator during transfer windows while also volunteering on several other blog pages and outlets to get a portfolio of content together.
Daniel then worked with Barnet FC as part of their social media team before starting his own website, which focused on football and MMA content.
That eventually led to work with 90min and Reach PLC with The Mirror, Daily Record, Daily Express, and Manchester Evening News.
Following that, Daniel spent two-and-a-half years with Breaking Media covering Everton, Rangers, Leeds, West Ham and other clubs before joining GiveMeSport as a Premier League editor.
As well as football, Daniel is a huge MMA fan and has appeared on YouTube and podcast content too.
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Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili have found out their punishments for getting into a brawl in an Abu Dhabi hotel earlier this week.
UFC star Merab was filming an interview for RAF Wrestling, where he was scheduled to compete this weekend against Marlon Moraes in a crossover bout, when he was approached by Usman and his entourage in the hotel lobby and attacked by the group.
The former bantamweight champion posted a video of the incident after the fact, showing his face bloodied and calling Nurmagomedov "sneaky" for attacking him from behind unprovoked, while his friend Saba Lazishvili was also involved.
Following the incident, footage was shared widely on social media which showed the brawl in full, and quickly went viral. It was then revealed that ten people had been detained by Abu Dhabi authorities while an investigation took place, including Usman and Merab.
Now, days later, the official account of Abu Dhabi Judicial said in a statement that the punishments for the altercation have now been handed down, including six-month prison sentences for everyone involved and deportation.
"Abu Dhabi court convicts 10 defendants in a hotel brawl, sentencing each to 6 months in prison and a fine of 300,000 dirhams, and ordering their deportation from the country.
"Abu Dhabi court convicts 10 defendants in hotel brawl, sentencing them to 6 months in prison, a Dh300,000 (£61,700) fine and deportation."
Six of the ten defendants have been sentenced to six months in prison, fined Dh300,000 (£61,700) each, and ordered to be deported after serving their sentences for disturbing public security, causing panic, and endangering lives.
Two others were fined Dh50,000 (£10,286) each for “disturbing public security and assaulting others”.
The remaining two people involved in the brawl were sentenced to six months in prison, fined Dh300,000 (£61,700) each and ordered to be deported “for violating privacy by using information technology to film and publish footage of the brawl". It was also ordered by the court that their phones be confiscated and the footage be deleted.
After the punishments were announced by the Abu Dhabi judicial system, RAF CEO and co-founder Chad Bronstein released a statement to confirm that Merab was now back with the RAF team, and thanked the authorities for their handling of the situation.
“I am pleased to share that Merab Dvalishvili is back with us in Abu Dhabi. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi for their professionalism and support.
"We remain focused on moving forward and are pleased to have Merab back with us."
RAF's event in Abu Dhabi this weekend is scheduled to continue without Merab on the card, and is set to be headlined by Khamzat Chimaev taking on Chris Weidman, who is a late-notice replacement for former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington, who was forced to withdraw due to an injury.
Umar Nurmagomedov is also scheduled to compete in the event against Urijah Faber.
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