Nabi Nabiev, a controversial pop MMA fighter, now faces serious legal trouble after an altercation with fellow fighter Arkady Osipyan.
The incident took a dramatic turn when Nabiev was arrested at Moscow airport upon returning from a sports reality show.
Law enforcement officials informed him that Osipyan had filed a formal complaint following their heated confrontation.
Legal Trouble for Nabiev
The charges against Nabiev are severe, as he now stands accused of hooliganism, a crime that could land him in prison for up to seven years.
After his arrest, he was placed under house arrest, and his upcoming fights were immediately canceled.
This isn’t the first time Nabiev has found himself at the center of controversy.
In April 2024, he was expelled from Hardcore Fighting following his involvement in a mass brawl at one of their events, which led to his contract being terminated for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Nabiev’s MMA Career
Before his downfall, Nabiev was making waves in the pop MMA world.
He had an impressive record, winning three Hardcore MMA tournaments in 2023, including a notable victory over Khamzat Magomadov, which earned him the bantamweight championship.
By April 2024, even though he wasn’t scheduled to fight, Nabiev managed to become one of the headliners at a major tournament.
The Incident with Osipyan
The fateful clash between Nabiev and Osipyan occurred during an event where Osipyan defeated Ali Heybati in the main event.
After the fight, emotions ran high. When Heybati struck Osipyan from behind, insults were exchanged, and Nabiev jumped into the fray, hurling insults at Osipyan.
This quickly escalated into a full-blown scuffle, with members of Nabiev’s team joining in and attacking Osipyan.
Despite security’s efforts to calm things down, the violence spilled outside the cage, and Osipyan was brutally assaulted again by Nabiev and his team.
Osipyan ended up in intensive care following the attack.
Once discharged from the hospital, he wasted no time in reporting the incident to the police, which led to Nabiev’s arrest.
Fallout for Hardcore Promotion
The fallout from this incident didn’t end with Nabiev.
The Russian Boxing Federation took swift action by revoking the license of Hardcore Fighting for both “fist fights” and “boxing.”
This decision dealt a heavy blow to HC Media and Boxing Entertainment, the organizations behind the promotion.
Due to repeated violations of rules and regulations, they are no longer permitted to conduct professional boxing fights.
Their judges are also barred from officiating, and future fights will not be counted in official records.
What Lies Ahead?
With Nabiev facing legal consequences and Hardcore Fighting stripped of its license, the pop MMA world is left reeling.
Nabiev’s once-promising career has been derailed by his own actions, and the promotion that once supported him is now facing an uncertain future.
Fans and fighters alike are left wondering what’s next for both Nabiev and the promotion that once held his fights at the forefront of the sport.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn