Askhabov's TKO Win Over Ekson Overturned to a Disqualification

One-time UFC fighter Khusein Askhabov has lost a TKO victory over Ekson on review. The Danish MMA Federation (DMMAF) changed the result to a disqualification and announced its final decision on Monday.

The fight took place on Oct. 17 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ekson's team had protested on social media ever since.

The trouble started during a timeout over an eye poke. Askhabov attacked Ekson in that break, chaos erupted, and the referee eventually awarded the Chechnya native the TKO win.

The federation's ruling

DMMAF said Askhabov's actions during the timeout were a serious violation of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. In its words, they "warranted disqualification, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the initial stoppage."

Askhabov and his cornermen also received a 12-month suspension "from all DMMAF-sanctioned events and activities, including participation as a fighter, coach, cornerman, or in any other capacity." The federation cited its Code of Conduct.

"DMMAF strongly condemns the conduct displayed during the incident," the statement read. It called attempts to attack an opponent during a timeout, disregard for the referee's instructions and unauthorised interference from corner teams "unacceptable."

Ekson's version

Ekson told MMA Fighting the decision was fair. "At no point did I want to tarnish my opponent's reputation or harm him, but justice prevailed," he said.

He pointed to illegal shots to the back of his head. "The blow to the back of the head was the hardest one," Ekson said. He stayed down for four minutes and thought he might not come back, but his corner encouraged him to continue.

After the restart, Ekson said, Askhabov took him down and threw strikes, then put a hand on his eye and scratched it with a thumb. Ekson was left dazed with blurred vision and spent seven days on antibiotics recommended by the event doctor.

He also said Askhabov taunted him while the doctor was examining him. Ekson answered with an expletive, and Askhabov came at him together with his team. Ekson said he left the cage only because the doctor had already told him several times that Askhabov was disqualified, and a security guard took him out.

Askhabov's reaction

Askhabov wrote under the federation's social media post that he came to fight and that his opponent had repeatedly insulted him and tried to provoke him. He asked whether the fight should at least have been a no contest. "How on earth does he get declared the winner?" he wrote.

"I never had any intention of hurting my opponent or anyone from his team," Askhabov said, adding that he understood emotions were high and mistakes were made.

Askhabov fought only once in the UFC. He was let go after reportedly being arrested for alleged kidnapping, torture and extortion in Thailand in 2023.

Source: MMA Fighting