Eduard Vartanyan was reportedly attacked backstage before his fight with Uzair at ACA 202 in Saint Petersburg and struck in the back of the head by friends of Zaur Gadzhiev. The incident highlighted ongoing issues with backstage access control at ACA events. A media member noted that while press are heavily restricted from locker rooms and backstage areas, fighters not competing on the card and their entourages have more freedom to roam these spaces. The journalist expressed frustration that credentialed media who have covered ACA for years face strict limitations while fighters outside the card can access restricted areas and even initiate altercations. The post noted that access policies have improved recently but remain imperfect.
A disturbing incident reportedly unfolded backstage at ACA 202 in Saint Petersburg on April 12, when Eduard Vartanyan was allegedly struck in the back of the head before his scheduled bout with Uzair, with associates of fighter Zaur Gadzhiev said to be responsible for the attack.
The reported assault has drawn sharp attention to longstanding security and access control problems at ACA events. According to accounts from those present, fighters not competing on a given card, along with their entourages, are able to move relatively freely through backstage and locker room areas. That freedom, the reporting suggests, created the conditions that allowed the alleged attack to occur.
A media member who covers ACA raised pointed criticism in the aftermath, noting a glaring contradiction in how access is managed at the promotion's events. Credentialed journalists with years of established history covering the organization face tight restrictions near locker rooms and backstage corridors, while non-competing fighters and their teams face far looser oversight of the same spaces.
Why it matters
- A fighter was allegedly assaulted in a secure area moments before a scheduled bout, raising serious questions about athlete safety
- The incident exposes an imbalance in access policies that restricts press while leaving fighter entourages less accountable in restricted zones
- The promotion has reportedly made some improvements to access control recently, but the gap in oversight remains a problem
- If the allegation is confirmed, it could prompt ACA to revisit credentialing and backstage security protocols across all events
The journalist acknowledged that ACA's backstage policies have improved in recent periods but made clear that the current system still falls short of adequately protecting competitors and maintaining order in restricted areas.
