Eduard Vartanyan attacked backstage before ACA 202 bout by Gadjiev associates

Eduard Vartanyan was allegedly attacked in the backstage area prior to his fight at ACA 202 in St. Petersburg, struck in the back of the head by friends of Zaur Gadjiev. The incident highlights ongoing security and access issues at ACA events. The post notes that media members are typically restricted from backstage areas and locker rooms, yet fighters not competing on the card can access these areas with their entourages. While ACA has recently improved media access policies, the organization historically maintained strict limitations on where credentialed media could be positioned, even as non-competing fighters and their associates had freer access to restricted zones.