A highly-anticipated matchup at Oktagon 67 ended in unusual fashion after an accidental axe kick to the groin forced the bout between Kutman Usupkozhoev and Korganbay Bakdaulet to be ruled a draw.
The incident occurred during the scheduled three-round contest, which managed to go 11 minutes before the unfortunate strike occurred. Both competitors entered the event with undefeated records and were looking to maintain their perfect status.
The awkward ending left both athletes with identical 3-0-1 professional records. While accidental low blows occasionally happen in professional bouts due to kicks going astray, axe kicks rarely result in such incidents due to their downward striking trajectory.
The referee immediately paused the action after the impact, but it was ultimately determined that Bakdaulet could not continue safely. Following standard protocol for accidental fouls that prevent bout continuation, the contest was ruled a draw.
This adds to a long history of similar unfortunate incidents in professional competition. Notable examples include Chris Tuchscherer’s bout with Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 102, where a kick actually cracked through Tuchscherer’s protective cup, and Alessio Sakara’s contest with Ron Faircloth at UFC 55 which also could not continue after an accidental strike.
The unexpected conclusion left fans disappointed but understanding of the situation, as athlete safety remains the top priority in professional competition. Both competitors showed mutual respect following the ruling.
