Eduard Vartanyan attacked backstage before ACA 202 bout

Eduard Vartanyan was reportedly struck in the back of the head backstage before his fight at ACA 202 in St. Petersburg by associates of Zaur Gadzhiev. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the promotion and raises questions about backstage security protocols. Media representatives noted that ACA has historically been strict about media access to backstage areas while fighters not competing on the card could move freely with their teams. The organization has recently improved its media access policies, though the situation remains imperfect. The attack occurred despite security measures, as fighters outside the active card were permitted in restricted areas where credentialed media were not.