Eduard Vartanyan was reportedly attacked in the backstage area before his fight at ACA 202 in Saint Petersburg. According to the report, friends of Zaur Gadzhiev struck Vartanyan in the back of the head prior to his bout with Uzair. The incident highlights ongoing issues with fighter access to restricted backstage areas at ACA events. The reporter noted that while media access to locker rooms and backstage has been strictly limited, fighters not competing on the card have been allowed in those areas with their entourages. The writer criticized this policy, suggesting that non-competing fighters should face access restrictions while credentialed media covering ACA for years should receive better access. The incident occurred despite ACA's typically strict protocols, though the reporter acknowledged access has improved recently, albeit not perfectly.
