Osmanli Accuses Akylbek Of Faking UFC DQ Injury

Mehemmedeli Osmanli believes his opponent faked a knockout injury after an illegal knee ended the Ultimate Fighter 34 finale Saturday night at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas.

The bantamweight tournament final between Osmanli and Ilimbek Akylbek was stopped by disqualification 2:19 into the opening round when the Azerbaijani fighter landed a running knee to Akylbek's face while the Kyrgyzstani was grounded on the canvas. Akylbek collapsed to his back and appeared dazed against the cage as his corner attended to him, per MMA Mania.

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Osmanli Questions Opponent's Reaction After Illegal Strike

Osmanli disputed the severity of the injury in an Instagram Live broadcast after the loss. "He fake," Osmanli said, according to MMA Mania. "First he take my leg. Then when referee stop, he put on show." Slow-motion footage shows Akylbek gripping Osmanli's leg and adjusting his position before the official halted the action, after which the fighter rolled onto his back and went limp.

Fighters who have been knocked unconscious sometimes attempt to grapple reflexively, so Akylbek's hold on the leg does not definitively prove he was acting. The knee itself was clearly illegal under unified rules, which protect grounded opponents from strikes to the head.

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Rafael Fiziev, who has ties to both countries, posted to Instagram urging fans not to turn the incident into a regional dispute. The TUF 34 finale drew significant attention in Central Asia despite limited interest in North America, where the reality show has lost its former cultural foothold. Osmanli is expected to compete again in early 2027.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Mehemmedeli Osmanli accuses Ilimbek Akylbek of faking injury in TUF finale DQ