According to Asian MMA, UFC fighter Khusein Askhabov, along with his twin brother Khasan Askhabov, has made headlines in Thailand for their alleged involvement in a disturbing criminal case. According to local media reports in Phuket, the Askhabov twins were arrested and charged with kidnapping, torture, and extortion.
Khusein Askhabov, who boasts a professional MMA record of 23-1, made his UFC debut in February. In contrast, Khasan Askhabov, with a record of 23-2, has not fought for a major promotion.
The charges against the twins stem from a harrowing incident that occurred on September 3rd. Three men forcibly entered a villa belonging to an Italian tourist in Phuket, Thailand. They abducted the victim from his bedroom, blindfolded him, and gagged him. Subsequently, the attackers fled the country, traveling from Phuket to Dubai and are believed to be in Kazakhstan. During the ordeal, the victim had several valuable items stolen, including high-end watches, electronics, and personal belongings.
The shocking nature of the crime has drawn significant attention, further exacerbated by the Askhabov twins’ impressive online following. Khusein Askhabov boasts 5.2 million Instagram followers, making him one of the most popular MMA fighters on the platform. His brother, despite not having fought for a major MMA promotion, has a substantial following of 4.9 million on Instagram.
While the exact role of the Askhabov brothers in the criminal act remains unclear, the Italian victim reported having met them approximately a year ago at a beach cafe in Cherng Talay. Over the past year, they had become acquainted, suggesting that the twins may have been involved in orchestrating the kidnapping, extortion, and robbery, even if they were not present at the scene of the actual crime.
Khusein Askhabov was scheduled to face Daniel Pineda at UFC Fight Night 229 in Las Vegas on October 7th. However, the legal implications surrounding his arrest raise questions about the status of this upcoming bout and his future in the UFC.
