Eduard Vartanyan was reportedly attacked in the backstage area before his fight with Uzair at ACA 202 in Saint Petersburg. According to reports, friends of fighter Zaur Gadzhiev struck Vartanyan in the back of the head prior to his bout. The incident highlights ongoing security concerns at ACA events, particularly regarding access to restricted backstage areas. The report notes that ACA has historically been strict about media access to locker rooms and backstage areas, yet fighters not competing on the card and their entourages have been allowed in these spaces. The author questions why accredited media members who have covered ACA for years face restrictions while non-competing fighters and their associates can freely access backstage areas where such incidents can occur.
A disturbing backstage incident reportedly unfolded at ACA 202 in Saint Petersburg on April 12, when Eduard Vartanyan was allegedly struck in the back of the head before he was set to compete against Uzair on the card.
According to reports, the attack was carried out by associates of fellow fighter Zaur Gadzhiev, who was not competing at the event. Vartanyan was reportedly ambushed in the restricted backstage area prior to his bout, raising immediate questions about how the incident was allowed to occur.
Why it matters
- The attack allegedly took place in a secured backstage zone that should be accessible only to authorized personnel and competing fighters.
- Non-competing fighters and their entourages are said to have had free access to those areas, despite ACA's reputation for enforcing strict access controls.
- Credentialed media professionals with years of experience covering ACA events have reportedly faced tighter restrictions than the individuals allegedly involved in the attack.
- The incident puts a spotlight on inconsistencies in ACA's event security protocols and who is permitted backstage at their shows.
The broader concern raised by those covering the story centers on a troubling contradiction in how ACA manages backstage access. Accredited journalists who regularly cover the promotion are reportedly held to a stricter standard than fighters not on the card and their personal entourages, who apparently move freely through areas where violent confrontations can take place without warning.
Whether Vartanyan's ability to compete in his scheduled bout against Uzair was affected by the alleged assault has not been confirmed in available reporting. ACA has not issued a public statement addressing the incident or the security questions it raises.
