Osmanli disqualified after illegal knee knocks out Akylbeck Uulu to end TUF bantamweight finale

Ilimbek Akylbeck Uulu is The Ultimate Fighter bantamweight champion, though the finish at UFC Vegas 121 was far from the one either fighter envisioned. Mehemmedeli Osmanli was disqualified at 2:19 of the first round after delivering an illegal knee to Akylbeck Uulu’s head while he was on the ground, a blow that appeared to render him unconscious.

Referee Kerry Hatley took a moment to assess the situation before halting the contest and awarding the victory — and the TUF plaque — to Akylbeck Uulu via disqualification. The knee was unambiguous in its severity, striking a grounded opponent in a manner that left little room for debate over the outcome.

Prior to the illegal shot, Akylbeck Uulu had shown early promise in the fight, landing a takedown and establishing positional control. The abrupt ending denied both fighters the conclusive finish the TUF Finale deserved, capping off a season that struggled to capture widespread attention.

For Osmanli, the result snapped a nine-fight winning streak and marked a damaging end to what had been a highly anticipated debut. The Azerbaijani prospect had entered the finale as one of the more touted fighters in the bracket, making the manner of the loss all the more deflating.

Akylbeck Uulu, meanwhile, extended his winning run to three consecutive fights and departs the TUF house as champion — albeit under circumstances that left the result feeling unresolved.