Eduard Vartanyan allegedly attacked backstage before ACA 202 fight

Eduard Vartanyan was reportedly attacked in the backstage area before his fight with Uzair at ACA 202 in St. Petersburg. Friends of Zaur Gadjiev allegedly struck Vartanyan in the back of the head. The incident highlights ongoing access control issues at ACA events, where fighters not competing on the card and their associates have been allowed in restricted areas while credentialed media face strict limitations. The report notes that ACA has historically been very restrictive about media access to locker rooms and backstage areas, though policies have improved somewhat recently. The contrast between fighter guest access and media restrictions has been a point of frustration for journalists covering the promotion.