ACB Publicly Fires Georgi Karakhanyan, Fighter Responds

Former World Series Of Fighting Featherweight Champion Georgi Karakhanyan was in action at Absolute Championship Berkut 90, but controversy reared its ugly head on that night.

Karakhanyan had Timur Nagibin in a guillotine choke in the first round of their encounter when referee Herb Dean broke the submission hold up as the round came to a conclusion.

Nagibin, believing the fight was still on going, would attack Karakhanyan with a few strikes, which would lead to a disqualification loss for the fighter.

Everything was captured on video and posted on Twitter by Caposa:

What just happened in the Karakhanyan fight at ACB? Looked like Dean stopped the fight (with no tap?) and then Nagibin kept going. Karakhanyan wins by DQ. #ACB90 pic.twitter.com/gckLnTDKse

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 10, 2018

Denis Geyko of RT would also post a video showing a rocked Karakhanyan trying to fight his own corner after the bout was called off:

Georgi Karakhanyan fighting his own coach after being punched by Timur Nagibin right after the first round gong #ACB90 pic.twitter.com/4hpQhcYj8I

— Denis Geyko (@DenisGeykoRT) November 11, 2018

It would progressively get worse from there because Nagibin would be attacked by Karakhanyan fans while heading backstage after the bout:

A mass brawl breaks out after Karakhanyan fans attack Timur Nagibin, as he is being walked away from the cage following disqualification for punching his opponent after the gong #ACB90 pic.twitter.com/dLuDPhad0d

— Denis Geyko (@DenisGeykoRT) November 11, 2018

Two weeks have passed since the controversial moments happened an ACB officials would go on Instagram to not only fire Karakhanyan, but to overturn his DQ win into a no contest:

 

 

 

 

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ACB 90 Athletic Commission hearing The list of participants is disciplinary hearing of ACB Athletic comission: Herb Dean – head ACB referee Lee Doyle – the head of ACB Athletic Comission Alexey Yacenko – vice-president of ACB Bryan Lasey – ACB’s commentator Ceasar Voicekhovskiy – ACB’s head judge Victor Korneev – ACB’s judge Lema Musaev – ACB’s doctor The main focus of the extraordinary meeting was the question of disciplinary and ethical behavior of some fighters, who competed at ACB 90 – Timur Nagibin, Georgi Karakhanyan and Mukhumat Vakhaev. The results of the meeting: 1) On Timur Nagibin’s protest: the disqualification won’t be overturned 2) Georgi Karakhanyan: for the unprecedented unsportsmanlike behavior prior to the fight and during the fight, for simulating and trying to cheat the referee, which lead to conflicts and brawls in the cage and on the arena – Georgi will be disqualified, the result of his fight against Timur Nagibin will be changed to NC as both fighters was disqualified. According to paragraph 5g of the contract between the fighter and promotion – the contract will be terminated and Georgi will be fired. 3) Mukhumat Vakhaev: for the unsportsmanlike behavior towards his opponent during the fight – he is to be fined for 20% of his purse.

A post shared by ACB MMA (@acb_mma) on Nov 23, 2018 at 1:18am PST

A now fired Karakhanyan would take to Instagram himself to respond to what ACB had stated:

 

 

 

 

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My official statement regarding acb #Karakhanyan #Караханян #MMA #россия #армения

A post shared by Georgi Karakhanyan (@georgimma) on Nov 23, 2018 at 2:45pm PST

MMA Fighting has also attempted to contact ACB about Karakhanyan’s statement, but no further statements have been issued at this time.