A controversial incident marred the conclusion of last night’s TOP DOG 33 event at Moscow’s CSKA Arena when referee Denis Anatolyevich Sidenko struck competitor Igor “Imelya” Ionov following a heated verbal exchange.
The incident occurred after the main event championship bout between light heavyweight titleholder Oleg “Fomich” Fomichev and challenger Ionov. During the match, Fomichev was repeatedly warned for rules violations, including hair-pulling and striking with an open palm after the referee’s stop commands. While Sidenko issued warnings, he opted not to deduct points, drawing criticism from both Ionov and spectators.
“The referee is a complete fa**ot! To go and hit a fighter after the fight! The referee hits the fighter! He gave me a hook with his fist! My face doesn’t hurt from Fomich, like from Sidenko. Fomich hits me after the stop command, and he makes a remark to me, fa**ot. I told him that he is of non-traditional se*ual orientation, and he got offended. And no one gets offended by the truth.” -Ionov said after the incident.
The comment prompted an immediate physical response from Sidenko.
Following the punch, Ionov reportedly spat at the referee, but security personnel quickly intervened to prevent further escalation.
The incident has sparked debate on social media, with fans calling for disciplinary action against the veteran official. “Will Topdog take any action against him? He’s the most experienced referee there,” wrote one user on social media.
Former ACA champion Murad Khalidov weighed in on the original video, describing it as “disgusting” and suggesting that the officiating appeared to favor Fomich. “The referee clearly played into Fomich’s hands,” Khalidov stated, adding that he sympathizes with the situation Fomich now finds himself in amid mounting criticism.
When asked directly about possible disciplinary actions, Ionov downplayed the likelihood of sanctions, stating “There shouldn’t be any sanctions, because it’s a show, and I’m responsible for it.”
In the aftermath of his controversial bout with Oleg “Fomich” Fomichev, when questioned about a potential revenge match, Ionov dismissed the notion of it being merely about revenge. “It’s not revenge. It’s a trilogy. It’s a championship story,” Ionov told Sport24, suggesting a broader narrative beyond just settling scores.
Ref had his own colorful reactions on social media:
The incident has raised questions about professional conduct and security protocols at bareknuckle events. TOP DOG officials have not yet announced whether any disciplinary action
Ionov later appeared to make light of the situation, sharing edited footage of the referee being escorted from the ring, spliced with an unrelated viral video. Neither TOP DOG promotion nor Ionov have issued formal statements regarding the incident as of this reporting.
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