Former UFC fighter Khusein Askhabov has had his victory over Reinaldo Ekson overturned to a disqualification loss following a controversial incident at C in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Danish Mixed Martial Arts Federation (DMMAF) has also handed both Askhabov and his corner team 12-month suspensions following a review of the October 17 bout.
Askhabov was initially awarded a first-round technical knockout victory after the lightweight contest was stopped. However, the result was revisited after footage of the incident raised questions about the fighter’s conduct during a referee-ordered timeout.
Khusein Askhabov Disqualified After Timeout Incident
The controversy unfolded during the co-main event between Askhabov and Ekson. During a ground exchange, the referee called a timeout after a suspected eye poke left the Brazilian unable to continue immediately. Rather than waiting for the situation to be resolved, Askhabov allegedly attempted to attack Ekson while the fight was stopped. The referee was forced to intervene and physically restrain the former UFC fighter, while members of Askhabov’s corner team attempted to enter the cage. Event security subsequently intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The contest was eventually stopped, and Askhabov was initially declared the winner by technical knockout following a lengthy delay and review. The decision, however, attracted criticism, with Ekson’s team questioning how the result had been reached.
The DMMAF subsequently reviewed the footage and determined that Askhabov’s actions during the timeout constituted a serious violation of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.
In its official statement, the federation confirmed that the original result had been overturned and that Ekson would be declared the winner by disqualification. The DMMAF also acknowledged that the initial decision was incorrect, accepting responsibility for ensuring that the official result was corrected.
DMMAF Hands Askhabov and His Corner Team 12-Month Suspensions
The consequences extended beyond the change to the fight result. The federation imposed 12-month disciplinary suspensions on Askhabov and his corner team from all DMMAF-sanctioned events and activities. The suspension covers participation as a fighter, coach, cornerman or in any other capacity under the federation’s Code of Conduct.
The DMMAF strongly condemned the behaviour displayed during the incident, stressing that attempting to attack an opponent during a timeout, disregarding the referee’s instructions and unauthorised interference by corner teams have no place in professional MMA. The federation also said it would review its procedures to help ensure that officials are better supported when dealing with similar situations in the future.
Importantly, the suspension applies to DMMAF-sanctioned events and activities; it has not been announced as a worldwide ban covering every MMA promotion.
Reinaldo Ekson Welcomes the Decision
Ekson welcomed the federation’s ruling after the result was overturned. The Brazilian had maintained that the incident had affected his ability to continue the contest and that the original outcome did not adequately reflect what had happened inside the cage.
According to reports, Ekson also alleged that he had been struck illegally on the back of the head earlier in the fight. He said the incident left him in considerable discomfort before he was encouraged by his corner to continue. The subsequent eye-poke incident brought the bout to a halt, setting the stage for the confrontation that ultimately became the central issue in the federation’s review.
While the original stoppage and the circumstances surrounding the eye poke formed part of the wider controversy, the DMMAF’s stated reason for overturning the result was Askhabov’s conduct during the timeout.
Askhabov, meanwhile, disputed the fairness of the decision. He argued that although disciplinary action could be taken against him for his behaviour, he did not believe Ekson should be awarded the victory. Askhabov also denied intending to hurt his opponent or members of Ekson’s team.
The opposing reactions underline the dispute surrounding the fight, although the federation’s revised ruling now officially records the contest as a disqualification loss for Askhabov.
What the Result Means for Askhabov
The ruling represents another setback for Askhabov, whose professional career has included a brief stint in the UFC. He made his sole appearance in the promotion in February 2023, losing to Jamall Emmers by unanimous decision.
The Chechen fighter later departed the UFC after his scheduled bout with Daniel Pineda was cancelled in 2023 following his arrest in Thailand over allegations of kidnapping, torture and extortion. Reports subsequently indicated that the charges were dropped.
Askhabov’s latest controversy now places his immediate fighting future in question, with the 12-month suspension preventing him and his corner team from participating in events and activities sanctioned by the Danish federation during that period.
The case also highlights the importance of referee authority and fighter conduct when a contest is temporarily halted. While heated exchanges are not unusual in MMA, fighters are expected to respect instructions to stop fighting while an official assesses a potential foul or injury.
In this instance, the federation concluded that Askhabov’s actions crossed that line and warranted disqualification, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the initial stoppage.
With the original victory overturned and disciplinary action imposed, the Copenhagen bout will be remembered not for Askhabov’s apparent return to the win column, but for the incident that transformed the result into a controversial disqualification loss.
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