The Danish Mixed Martial Arts Federation (DMMAF) has reviewed the circumstances surrounding the professional MMA bout between Reinaldo Ekson Oliveira and Khusein Askhabov at Airtox Dominance FC 8.0 on October 17, 2026.
Following a review of the incident, the DMMAF Board has decided to overturn the original fight result and issue a 12-month disciplinary suspension to Khusein Askhabov and his corner team.
Incident and decision
During the bout, the referee called a timeout following a suspected eye poke. While the fight was stopped, Khusein Askhabov displayed aggressive behaviour towards his opponent and attempted to attack him despite the referee’s intervention. The referee was forced to physically restrain Askhabov, while members of his corner team attempted to enter the cage, requiring intervention from event security.
After the bout was stopped, Askhabov was initially declared the winner.
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 DMMAF Board has therefore decided to:
- Overturn the original result and declare Reinaldo Ekson Oliveira the winner by disqualification (DQ).
- Impose a 12-month disciplinary suspension on Khusein Askhabov and his corner team from all DMMAF-sanctioned events and activities, including participation as a fighter, coach, cornerman, or in any other capacity, in accordance with the federation’s Code of Conduct.
DMMAF strongly condemns the conduct displayed during the incident. 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.
Responsibility and future measures
DMMAF acknowledges that the original decision was incorrect and takes responsibility for ensuring that the result is corrected.
The incident presented an unprecedented and highly challenging situation for the officials involved. While these circumstances do not excuse the original decision, DMMAF will use this experience to review and strengthen its procedures and ensure that officials are adequately supported in similar situations.
Athlete safety, respect for officials, and the integrity of competition are fundamental principles of MMA. DMMAF remains committed to upholding these standards and maintaining a safe, fair, and professional environment for everyone involved in the sport.