In a shocking turn of events, MMA fighter Idris Abdurashidov has claimed he has been banned from boxing “for life” after delivering an illegal head kick that knocked out his opponent during his professional boxing debut on October 20. The 21-year-old Russian, who has an impressive 4-0 record in mixed martial arts (MMA) with four first-round knockouts, including two that happened in under 30 seconds, found himself under immense pressure against his opponent, Iranian boxer Bagher Faraji.
The fight, held in Thailand, took a dramatic turn in the fourth round when Abdurashidov, feeling cornered, executed a head kick that rendered Faraji unconscious. The knockout was immediate; Faraji fell face-first onto the mat, prompting the referee to wave off the bout and disqualify Abdurashidov on the spot. This moment marked a tragic debut for the Russian fighter, who had initially aimed to make a smooth transition from MMA to boxing.
Following the fight, Abdurashidov took to Instagram to share the footage of the controversial moment, captioning it: “So I debuted in professional boxing, and disqualification for life.” His post drew significant backlash from fans and boxing enthusiasts alike, many of whom condemned his actions as dishonorable. One Instagram user remarked, “You were getting embarrass[ed] and you had to cheat. Classless, and I’m glad you’re banned for life. 0-1 boxing.”
Despite the criticism, Abdurashidov attempted to mend fences by posting a follow-up video showing him and Faraji shaking hands, captioned with, “We shook hands between us, everything is fight, we made up.” However, many remained skeptical of his intentions. Another commenter pointed out the irony, stating, “The head kick and running away around the ring, if it had continued for another thirty seconds, you would have been knocked out.”
With Abdurashidov now facing a lifetime ban from boxing, questions loom over his future in combat sports. His Instagram bio, which highlights his 4-0 MMA record and a 3-0 record in Muay Thai, suggests that while his boxing career may be over, he might still find opportunities in other martial arts disciplines. As the combat sports community reacts, Abdurashidov’s actions serve as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to the rules in professional fighting.
