Muslimbek Omonov died in Tashkent after sustaining injuries during a street brawl.
A seven-time kickboxing champion from Uzbekistan died after sustaining fatal injuries during a street brawl in Tashkent, the country’s capital.
Muslimbek Omonov was hospitalized along with two other victims after taking part in a street fight involving two separate groups at a local cafe in Yunusabad District.
According to reports, Omonov arrived in the hospital with stab wounds and died from his injuries. Doctors present at the hospital could not save the 23-year-old.
Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed the death and initiated a criminal investigation into the fight.
Omonov was a professional MMA fighter with a 6-2 professional record. He also won the gold medal in the Asian MMA championship.
This is not the first time that combat sports athletes have died from violent altercations. In August 2018, a fight broke out between 25-year-old MMA fighter Zhamshid Kenzhaev and the guards at a nightclub. The athlete died in the hospital from his wounds. Four club guards were convicted in the case, one of them was sentenced to 18 years in prison, and three more to 5 years in prison.