Eduard Vartanyan was reportedly attacked in the backstage area before his bout at ACA 202 in Saint Petersburg, being struck in the back of the head by associates of Zaur Gadzhiev. The incident raises questions about ACA's security protocols and media access policies. The report notes that while ACA historically restricted media access to backstage areas and locker rooms very strictly, fighters not competing on the card were apparently allowed in those areas with their entourages. The author criticizes this double standard, noting that journalists who have covered ACA for years face restrictions while non-competing fighters who initiated a physical altercation had access. The situation has reportedly improved recently but remains imperfect.
