WSOF suspends Vagab Vagabov five months for hitting opponent after the bell

World Series of Fighting will not wait for the athletic commission.

WSOF has suspended Vagab Vagabov for five months after he struck opponent Brian Grinnell multiple times after the bell, promotion executive vice president Ali Abdel-Aziz confirmed with MMA Fighting. Vagabov is likely also facing discipline from the Arizona Boxing & MMA Commission. The suspension was first reported by MMAjunkie.

The Dagestani fighter beat Grinnell by TKO with strikes up against the cage in the second round Friday night at WSOF 23. Referee Al Guinee stepped in to stop the bout, but Vagabov kept going, punching Grinnell and even throwing a knee.

Vagabov (16-0) is an undefeated prospect making his WSOF debut. The 29-year-old is a high-level kickboxer and potential contender at middleweight for the promotion. He trains out of Jackson-Wink MMA in Albuquerque, N.M.

This is the second time in as many events that a WSOF fighter has continued after the bell. Rousimar Palhares held onto a kimura submission of Jake Shields too long in the WSOF 22 main event Aug. 1. WSOF suspended Palhares indefinitely following that action as well as his repeated eye-gouging of Shields during the bout. He's also facing discipline from the Nevada Athletic Commission at a hearing next month.

Shields was given 50 hours of community service by the NAC for punching Palhares after he released the hold in retaliation.