Eduard Vartanyan was attacked in the backstage area before his fight with Uzair at ACA 202 in St. Petersburg. He was struck in the back of the head by associates of Zaur Gadjiev. The incident highlights ongoing issues with ACA's media access policies, which have historically been very restrictive for journalists in locker rooms and backstage areas, while fighters not competing on the card and their entourages have been allowed access. The reporter notes that while media restrictions have improved recently, the situation is still not ideal. The attack occurred despite ACA's strict protocols about who can be in backstage areas.
