Askhabov disqualified and suspended after attacking Ekson during timeout at Dominance FC 8

Khusein Askhabov has been disqualified and handed a 12-month suspension after the Danish MMA Federation (DMMAF) overturned his first-round TKO victory over Reinaldo Ekson at Airtox Dominance FC 8, which took place on October 17 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The DMMAF announced its ruling on Monday following a review of the lightweight co-main event.

The incident stemmed from a timeout called after Ekson was poked in the eye. During that break in action, Askhabov attacked Ekson, prompting chaos at ringside before the referee controversially awarded the Chechen fighter the TKO win. Ekson’s team immediately disputed the result on social media, leading to the federation’s formal review.

“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 federation said in a statement.

Alongside Askhabov, his cornermen were also suspended for 12 months from all DMMAF-sanctioned events and activities — including roles as fighters, coaches, or cornermen — under the federation’s Code of Conduct. “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,” the DMMAF added.

Ekson welcomed the decision and also revealed the physical toll of the bout. “The federation’s decision was fair,” he told MMA Fighting. “At no point did I want to tarnish my opponent’s reputation or harm him, but justice prevailed.”

Ekson said illegal blows to the back of his head during the fight had a severe impact. “The blow to the back of the head was the hardest one. 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.”

Askhabov pushed back against the ruling on the DMMAF’s social media post, arguing that Ekson had provoked him throughout the fight. “I came there to fight. That’s all I wanted,” he wrote, questioning how Ekson could be declared the winner. “How he beat me? I came to fight, not to watch someone walk away.”

Askhabov fought only once in the UFC before being released. He was reportedly arrested in Thailand in 2023 on allegations of kidnap, torture, and extortion.