Ex-UFC fighter's TKO win overturned to disqualification after attacking opponent during stoppage

A former UFC fighter's first-round TKO victory has been overturned to a disqualification loss, 10 days after the bout, following his attack on an opponent during a stoppage.

The Danish MMA Federation (DMMAF) announced Tuesday that it had changed the result of Husein Askhaborov's bout from a first-round TKO win to a disqualification loss and imposed 12-month suspensions on both the fighter and his corner team.

Askhaborov had faced Reinaldo Ekson Oliveira of Brazil in a lightweight bout at Airtox Dominance FC 8.0, held Oct. 17 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The fight was chaotic from the opening round. According to local media, the bout was stopped once after Askhaborov landed a blow to the back of his opponent's head. After it resumed, a suspected eye poke halted the action again. While Oliveira was being examined by medical staff, Askhaborov attacked him, prompting the referee to physically intervene. Members of Askhaborov's corner then attempted to enter the cage, and security personnel had to step in.

After reviewing footage, the referee ruled the strike to the eye area a legal blow. When Oliveira was unable to continue, Askhaborov was declared the winner by first-round TKO.

The DMMAF's post-fight investigation, however, determined that Askhaborov's attempt to attack his opponent during the stoppage constituted a serious rules violation. The federation reversed the result and banned Askhaborov and his corner team from federation-sanctioned events and activities for one year. It also acknowledged problems with the original ruling.

Oliveira told MMA Fighting that he had been struck on the back of the head and had his eye raked with fingers, and said he underwent a week of antibiotic treatment for the eye injury. Askhaborov pushed back against the sanctions, claiming his opponent had provoked him. He argued that while his actions may warrant punishment, they did not justify awarding the victory to his opponent.

Askhaborov, a Chechen-born Russian, lost his UFC debut by decision to Jamal Emers of the United States in February 2023. That September, he was arrested in Thailand on charges of kidnapping, torture and extortion, and in 2024 he received a two-year suspension after testing positive for a banned substance.

He returned to competition in December 2025 with another organization. The Denmark bout was his second fight since that comeback, but the disqualification loss leaves his professional record at 24 wins and 2 losses.