Khusein Askhabov disqualified and TKO win over Reinaldo Ekson overturned
The Danish MMA Federation has also banned the former UFC fighter and his cornermen from all its sanctioned events for 12 months after he went after his opponent during a timeout for an eye poke.
The Danish MMA Federation (DMMAF) has overturned Khusein Askhabov's first-round TKO victory over Reinaldo Ekson and ruled the fight a disqualification loss for Askhabov. The federation found that Askhabov attacked Ekson during a timeout called for an eye poke.
The lightweight bout was the co-main event of Airtox Dominance FC 8 in Copenhagen on 17 October. Chaos broke out during the timeout, and the referee eventually awarded Askhabov the TKO. Ekson's team protested the result, and the DMMAF announced its final decision on Monday.
The federation said in a statement: “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.” Askhabov and his cornermen have been suspended for 12 months from all DMMAF-sanctioned events in any capacity, including as a fighter, coach or cornerman. The federation said attempts to attack an opponent during a timeout, disregard for the referee's instructions and unauthorised interference from corner teams had no place in professional MMA.
Askhabov fought only once in the UFC.
In a comment beneath the federation's announcement, Askhabov wrote that Ekson had repeatedly insulted and provoked him during the fight and was looking for an excuse to get out of it. He accepted that emotions were high and mistakes were made, but asked why the result was not ruled a no contest. He wrote: “You can punish me for actions, but that doesn’t mean my opponent deserves a victory he didn’t earn inside the cage.” He added that he never intended to hurt Ekson or anyone in his team.
Ekson called the decision fair. He said an illegal blow to the back of his head sent a shock down his spine to his leg and left him down for four minutes, and that he returned still feeling weak. He said that after the restart Askhabov took him down and scratched his eye with his thumb, blurring his vision, and that he spent seven days on antibiotics recommended by the event doctor.
Ekson said Askhabov started the confrontation. He said: “He started taunting me while I was being examined by the doctor, calling me to fight.” Ekson said he swore at Askhabov, who then came at him along with his team. He added that he left the cage only because the doctor had told him several times that Askhabov had been disqualified, and that a security guard led him out.
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