Khusein Askhabov Disqualified, TKO Win Over Ekson Erased

Khusein Askhabov has had his first-round TKO win over Reinaldo Ekson overturned to a disqualification loss after the Danish MMA Federation reviewed the co-main event from Airtox Dominance FC 8. The commission ruled Monday that Askhabov's conduct during an in-fight timeout amounted to a serious rules violation, wiping out a result that had stood since the Oct. 17 card in Copenhagen.

What Happened In The Askhabov-Ekson Fight

The bout was stopped mid-fight so the ringside doctor could examine Ekson's eye after Askhabov allegedly poked him. During that timeout, Ekson says Askhabov taunted him and then rushed him along with members of his corner, setting off a brawl inside the cage. The referee initially awarded Askhabov a TKO win amid the chaos, but Ekson's camp pushed back immediately on social media, and the Danish MMA Federation opened a formal review.

That review concluded Askhabov's actions during the stoppage constituted what the federation called a serious violation of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, enough to justify disqualification regardless of how the fight was originally called. Askhabov and his cornermen were each hit with 12-month suspensions from all federation-sanctioned events, barring them from fighting, coaching or cornering under that commission's jurisdiction.

Ekson, for his part, says the sequence started well before the brawl, pointing to an illegal shot to the back of his head that he claims sent a shock through his spine and nearly ended the fight on its own. He also described the eye poke as a deliberate thumb to the socket that left him with blurred vision and on a week of antibiotics. Askhabov has disputed the characterization publicly, arguing he came to fight and that Ekson was looking for a way out, though he said he never intended to hurt his opponent or the opposing corner.

Why This Matters For Askhabov's Career

A former UFC fighter who made just one appearance for the promotion before his release, Askhabov was already fighting his way back up the regional ranks when this result was wiped out. Instead of a highlight-reel finish to build on, he now carries a disqualification loss and a year-long ban from a commission that oversees a promotion he was actively competing for. That is a brutal combination for a fighter trying to rebuild momentum outside the UFC, and it will almost certainly factor into how promoters and matchmakers view him when he becomes eligible to compete again.

For bettors, the overturned result is a reminder of how fragile in-cage chaos can be for a wager that looked settled. Anyone who cashed a ticket on Askhabov by TKO in the immediate aftermath has since seen that outcome voided by the commission, underscoring why bettors should treat first-round stoppages involving fouls, scuffles or doctor timeouts with caution until a result is official and the appeal window has closed. Regional cards with less oversight carry more of this volatility than UFC or major promotional events, and this incident is a clean example of why sportsbooks often hold late payouts when a result is contested.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Khusein Askhabov's win over Reinaldo Ekson overturned?

The Danish MMA Federation ruled that Khusein Askhabov committed a serious rules violation by attacking Reinaldo Ekson during an in-fight timeout, overturning his original TKO win into a disqualification loss.

What punishment did Khusein Askhabov receive?

Khusein Askhabov and his cornermen were each suspended for 12 months from all Danish MMA Federation-sanctioned events and activities, including fighting, coaching, and cornering.

What did Reinaldo Ekson say happened during the fight?

Reinaldo Ekson said Khusein Askhabov landed an illegal strike to the back of his head and later poked him in the eye, and that Askhabov taunted him and attacked while he was being examined by the ringside doctor.