Suspect in the murder of young MMA fighter detained

The law enforcement agencies of Tajikistan have detained 19-year-old resident of Kulob, Sulaymon Odinaev, on suspicion of murdering young mixed martial arts fighter Muhammadali Sa’dulloev.

It is reported that Odinaev is also suspected of inflicting stab wounds on two other young men. A criminal case has been initiated against him under the articles “Causing serious harm to health resulting in death” and “Hooliganism.” If his guilt is proven, Sulaymon Odinaev faces a prison sentence of 12 to 20 years.

The 19-year-old suspect is currently unavailable for comments, and it is unknown whether he has confessed to the attack.

His relative named Fariza told Radio Ozodi that Muhammadali, along with friends, allegedly mocked Sulaymon Odinaev, after which he was forced to “defend himself with a knife.”

The relatives of the deceased athlete categorically rejected these claims, stating that Muhammadali was a calm and non-conflict young man.

On the night of January 11, a mass brawl involving seven to nine young people occurred in Kulob. As a result of the fight, young mixed martial arts fighter Muhammad Sa’dulloev was killed, and two others sustained stab wounds, one to the abdomen and the other to the arm. Both were hospitalized.

Authorities have not yet officially commented on the incident. Various versions of the fatal conflict have emerged online, but it is not possible to confirm or deny them.

Earlier, Muhammadali Sa’dulloev’s coach, Kamol Valiev, confirmed the tragedy to journalists and noted that the conflict began after a verbal argument in one of the computer gaming clubs.

Later, Radio Ozodi, citing sources in the investigative authorities and residents of the Shamsiddin Shohin neighborhood of Kulob, reported that the conflict was triggered by a “mobile phone.” According to this version, Muhammadali Sa’dulloev took Sulaymon Odinaev’s phone to make a call and did not return it to its owner.

According to one version, the fight began not in the computer club but on the street. When the conflict started, one of the young men took refuge in the gaming center, where the scuffle continued.

Surveillance camera footage shows one young man trying to enter the computer club, but another is beating him with fists and feet. Then six people enter, and one of them, presumably with a knife, attacks three, one of whom was Muhammadali.

According to eyewitnesses, after the attack, Muhammadali, holding his chest, exited the building, walked about 200 meters, lost consciousness, and fell. He was taken to the hospital, but the athlete could not be saved.

Muhammadali Sa’dulloev is a three-time champion of Tajikistan and a world champion in mixed martial arts. By 2025, the athlete had 8 victories and no defeats.

In 2024, Sa’dulloev won the youth world championship in MMA in Abu Dhabi (UAE).