Police detained 12 individuals to assist investigations involving the death of a man during a brawl at a nightclub at Jalan Datuk Abdullah Tahir, here early this morning.

Johor Baharu Selatan police chief ACP Sulaiman Salleh who confirmed the incident said the clash took place at 2.50am as a result of a misunderstanding between two groups at the nightclub.

"During the clash, a 38-year-old man was fatally stabbed with a 10" knife," he said in a statement.

Sulaiman said the fight started between the two groups which involved about eight to 10 people who were seated at different tables inside the nightclub.

Investigations revealed that the clash started when an individual from one group threw his drinks on an individual from another group.

"The action triggered a free for all, with bottles and chairs thrown at each other," he said adding that during the fight, one of them had stabbed the victim on the left side of his stomach.

The victim later died at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital while receiving treatment.

A 22-year-old patron of the nightclub who was also injured on his head by flying debris during the brawl has been admitted for treatment at the same hospital.