Ali Akbar Rosady
Copenhagen, Denmark – The Danish Mixed Martial Arts Federation (DMMAF) has officially overturned a first-round TKO victory previously awarded to one-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Khusein Askhabov, transforming the outcome into a disqualification loss against his opponent, Reinaldo Ekson. The decision, announced on Monday, October 23, followed a comprehensive review of a contentious lightweight bout that served as the co-main event of Airtox Dominance FC 8, held on October 17 in Copenhagen. The ruling also included a severe 12-month suspension for Askhabov and his cornermen from all DMMAF-sanctioned activities, citing a "serious violation" of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.
The incident at the heart of the controversy unfolded during a timeout in the first round, after Ekson reportedly sustained an eye poke. Eyewitness accounts and subsequent review by the DMMAF confirmed that Askhabov, a fighter with a professional record of 23 wins and 1 loss prior to this bout, attacked Ekson during this sanctioned pause in action. The unexpected aggression ignited a chaotic scene within the cage, which initially led the referee to award Askhabov a TKO victory. However, Ekson’s team immediately lodged a protest, leveraging social media to highlight the circumstances surrounding the stoppage and to call for a re-evaluation of the fight’s conclusion.
The DMMAF, the governing body responsible for sanctioning and regulating professional MMA events in Denmark, commenced its review process in the days following the event. On Monday, the federation issued a definitive statement outlining its findings and disciplinary actions. "Having reviewed the incident, DMMAF has determined that Askhabov’s actions during the timeout constituted a serious violation of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts and warranted disqualification, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the initial stoppage," the statement read, underscoring the severity of the in-cage conduct.
The Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts are a standardized set of regulations adopted by numerous athletic commissions and federations globally to ensure fighter safety, fair play, and consistent adjudication across the sport. Violations such as striking an opponent during a break, intentional fouls, or unsportsmanlike conduct are typically met with stern penalties, ranging from point deductions to immediate disqualification. The DMMAF’s decision highlights the critical importance of these rules, particularly regarding fighter conduct during periods of stoppage or medical assessment.
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The disciplinary measures extended beyond the overturning of the fight result. Askhabov and his cornermen have been handed a 12-month suspension, effective immediately, "from all DMMAF-sanctioned events and activities, including participation as a fighter, coach, cornerman, or in any other capacity, in accordance with the federation’s Code of Conduct." This extensive ban effectively sidelines Askhabov from competing or participating in any official capacity within Denmark for a full year, a significant blow to his career momentum following his departure from the UFC.
The DMMAF’s statement did not mince words in condemning the behavior observed during the bout. "DMMAF strongly condemns the conduct displayed during the incident," the federation declared. "Attempts to attack an opponent during a timeout, disregard for the referee’s instructions, and unauthorised interference from corner teams are unacceptable and have no place in professional MMA." This firm stance reiterates the federation’s commitment to upholding the integrity and safety standards of the sport.
Reinaldo Ekson, a Brazilian lightweight with a professional record of 19 wins and 7 losses prior to this contest, expressed satisfaction with the DMMAF’s ruling. "The federation’s decision was fair," Ekson told MMA Fighting on Monday. "At no point did I want to tarnish my opponent’s reputation or harm him, but justice prevailed. I was wronged by what happened, and thank God the federation made a fair decision." Ekson, who typically fights out of Brazil, had been looking to extend his professional winning streak and saw his initial loss as an unjust outcome. His current record now officially stands at 20 wins and 7 losses following the reversal.
Ekson also recounted a prior contentious moment in the fight, criticizing Askhabov for what he described as illegal shots to the back of his head, which he claimed nearly led to a premature end of the bout. "The blow to the back of the head was the hardest one," Ekson stated. "It affected me a lot and sent a shock through my entire cervical spine all the way down to my leg. I stayed there for four minutes and thought I might not come back, but my corner encouraged me. I ended up returning while still feeling the loss of strength caused by the blow to the back of my head." This earlier alleged foul adds another layer of tension and perceived unsportsmanlike conduct to the narrative of the fight.
Khusein Askhabov, who made his lone UFC appearance in February 2023, suffering a unanimous decision loss to Jamall Emmers at UFC Fight Night 219, had been released by the promotion following reports of his alleged arrest in Thailand in 2023 for suspected involvement in kidnapping, torture, and extortion. This history of off-cage controversy casts a long shadow over his professional career. Askhabov took to social media, specifically commenting on the DMMAF’s announcement, to voice his strong disagreement with the decision.
"I came there to fight. That’s all I wanted," Askhabov wrote, presenting a contrasting perspective on the events. He claimed provocation from his opponent throughout the contest. "Throughout the fight, my opponent repeatedly insulted me and tried to provoke me. In my eyes, was already mentally broken and looking for every possible excuse to escape the fight. I understand that emotions were high and mistakes were made. It is even not a no contest? But how on earth does he get declared the winner? How he beat me? I came to fight, not to watch someone walk away and get rewarded with a win."
Askhabov further argued that the decision ignored the visual evidence and the spirit of competition. "The fans saw this! You can punish me for actions, but that doesn’t mean my opponent deserves a victory he didn’t earn inside the cage. Where is the fairness in that? This decision makes absolutely no sense to me. I want to make one thing absolutely clear: I never had any intention of hurting my opponent or anyone from his team." His current professional record now stands at 23 wins and 2 losses.
However, Ekson offered a differing account of the interaction during the critical timeout. He stated that it was Askhabov who initiated the aggressive behavior while Ekson was being evaluated by the ringside doctor for the eye injury. "The fight restarted [after the illegal strike to the back of the head] and he managed to take me down and started throwing strikes," Ekson explained, detailing the sequence leading to the eye poke. "He put his hand on my eye and used his thumb to scratch it, and that scratch left me completely dazed, with blurred vision. My eye became very irritated, and I spent seven days using antibiotics that the event doctor himself recommended."
Regarding the verbal exchange, Ekson asserted, "He started taunting me while I was being examined by the doctor, calling me to fight. I told him ‘f*ck you.’ He got angry and came at me, along with his team." Ekson described being escorted out of the cage by security, confirming that the doctor had already indicated Askhabov’s disqualification. "I only left the cage because the doctor had already told me several times that he had been disqualified. A security guard grabbed my arm and said, ‘Let’s go.’ The security guard took me out of the cage. I wasn’t the one who wanted to stop the fight, and the doctor had already confirmed his disqualification."
The divergent accounts from both fighters highlight the intense and often emotional nature of high-stakes combat sports. However, the DMMAF’s role as a neutral governing body is to interpret rules and evidence, prioritizing fighter safety and adherence to established protocols. The federation’s explicit condemnation of attacking an opponent during a timeout and disregarding referee instructions directly addresses the core of Ekson’s allegations and the visual evidence reviewed.
The outcome of this controversy carries significant implications for both competitors. For Reinaldo Ekson, the reversal of the loss to a disqualification victory not only salvages his professional record but also validates his protest and reinforces the principle of fair play. For Khusein Askhabov, the disqualification and subsequent 12-month suspension represent a further setback in a career already marred by significant challenges, including his release from the UFC and serious criminal allegations. The suspension from DMMAF-sanctioned events means he will be unable to compete in Denmark for the duration, forcing him to seek opportunities elsewhere or face an extended period of inactivity, further complicating his path back to prominence in the sport.
The full fight video has been made available, allowing the public and pundits to review the contentious sequence that led to the DMMAF’s decisive intervention. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the rigorous standards of conduct expected from professional mixed martial artists and the vigilant oversight provided by athletic commissions to maintain the integrity of the sport.
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