Friends of Zaur Gadzhiev attacked Eduard Vartanyan backstage at ACA 202

Eduard Vartanyan was attacked in the backstage area before his fight at ACA 202 in Saint Petersburg by friends of Zaur Gadzhiev, who struck him in the back of the head. The incident raises questions about ACA's security protocols, particularly regarding who has access to backstage areas. The reporter notes that ACA has historically been very strict about media access to locker rooms and backstage areas, requiring journalists to stay in media rooms or press seating. However, a fighter not competing on the card was able to be backstage with friends and allegedly initiated a physical altercation. The reporter acknowledges recent improvements in media access policies but criticizes allowing non-competing fighters free backstage access while restricting credentialed journalists.