Khusein
Askhabov’s sophomore Octagon appearance has been scrapped after
the Russian was arrested in connection with a home invasion and
robbery in Phuket, Thailand, earlier this month.
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The Las Vegas-based promotion announced Askhabov’s removal from his
UFC
Fight Night 229 bout against Daniel
Pineda on Monday evening.
“UFC is aware of the recent arrest and allegations regarding
Khusein
Askhabov,” the statement read. “The organization will continue
to gather additional details regarding the incident. UFC will allow
the legal process to play out before making any additional
statements, however, his scheduled fight on October 7 has been
canceled.”
According to a report from the
Phuket News, Asksabov and his twin brother, Khasan, were
arrrested in connection with three Kazakh nationals forcing their
way into an Italian man’s villa at a Thailand resort, where the man
was bound, gagged, beaten and eventually robbed. According to a
police report, Askhabov and his brother were arrested with the
intent of prosecution with “the act of robbery done with cruelty to
the extent that others receive it and endangering the body or mind
through torture.”
It is unclear what the connection Askhabov and his brother have to
the Kazakh nationals. According to the report, the three men
entered the Italian’s villa at approximately 11 p.m. local time on
Sept. 3. The men, who the victim did not recognize, bound, gagged
and blindfolded him before receiving a call from another person who
was allegedly orchestrating the attack. The three attackers
reportedly beat the man throughout the night before robbing him of
valuables that included more than $40,000 cash, three luxury
watches, a Macbook, two iPhones and a pair of sunglasses.
Additionally, the thieves took the man’s debit card, passport and
passwords for accessing his phone, safe and computers.
The three attackers reportedly flew from Phuket to Dubai on Sept. 4
and have since returned to Kazakhstan. The victim claimed that
while he had never seen his assailants, he met the Askhabov
brothers a year ago at a cafe and considered them to be
acquaintances.
Khusein
Askhabov entered his promotional debut with a 23-0 record.
However, he fell to Jamall
Emmers via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 219 on Feb.
18. It is unclear if Pineda will remain on the UFC Fight Night 229
card against a replacement opponent.