The Tashkent City Court has overturned a previous sentence and imposed actual prison terms on professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Shahzod Uzakov, known publicly as 'Shahzod-Gold', and his accomplice, Nurillo Kuldoshev. The court's cassation ruling replaced their initial punishment of restricted freedom with deprivation of liberty, sparking widespread discussion and varied interpretations on social media.
According to court documents, on November 7, 2025, the Almazar District Court found Uzakov and Kuldoshev guilty of hooliganism under Article 277 of the Criminal Code for using physical force against two citizens during a roadside altercation. They were originally sentenced to restricted freedom for terms ranging from three and a half to four years. However, the judicial panel of the Tashkent City Court deemed this penalty insufficient.
The panel's decision emphasized that as professional athletes, Uzakov and Kuldoshev possess specialized physical training and combat skills, granting them physical superiority over ordinary citizens. Consequently, they are obligated to use their strength solely within legal boundaries and according to sporting rules. The court document specifically notes that instead of demonstrating the discipline and responsibility expected of athletes, they instigated a conflict over a trivial matter and applied physical force to the victims, thereby increasing the social danger of the committed crime.
The judicial panel also considered the defendants' prior criminal records: Uzakov had been held accountable twice before, and Kuldoshev once, for offenses of the same category. The panel concluded that the first-instance court had inadequately assessed the nature and degree of social danger posed by this type of crime and had unjustifiably imposed restricted freedom.
Based on these and other circumstances, the panel annulled the initial verdict and sentenced both defendants to three and a half years of imprisonment, taking them into custody directly in the courtroom. The verdict specifically stipulates that the time spent in custody and the served term of restricted freedom will be counted toward the new sentence.
An official statement from the Tashkent City Court clarified that this announcement is informational in nature and does not constitute the final conclusion on the criminal case.
Source: kun.uz