Zaur Gadzhiev and/or his teammates reportedly attacked Eduard Vartanyan before his fight, striking him on the back of the head. The incident occurred in the backstage area prior to Vartanyan's bout. Despite this aggressive behavior, Gadzhiev will not be removed from the league. Magomed Bibulatov stated that he had a stern conversation with Gadzhiev about the incident. The post suggests this is part of a pattern of problematic behavior from Gadzhiev's team. No disciplinary actions beyond the conversation were mentioned.
A backstage altercation has drawn attention ahead of competition, after Zaur Gadzhiev and members of his team reportedly struck Eduard Vartanyan on the back of the head in the backstage area before Vartanyan's bout on April 13.
Magomed Bibulatov, known by his nickname Chaborz, confirmed he addressed the situation directly, stating he held a stern conversation with Gadzhiev following the incident. The 37-year-old orthodox fighter holds a professional record of 14 wins and 2 losses, competing at five-foot-five with a 65-inch reach. Bibulatov averages 3.6 significant strikes landed per minute at 51 percent accuracy, and adds 2.85 takedown attempts per 15 minutes, making him one of the more well-rounded presences connected to this story.
Despite the seriousness of the alleged conduct, Gadzhiev will not be removed from the league. No formal disciplinary measures beyond the reported conversation were announced.
Why it matters
- An unprovoked backstage strike on a fighter preparing to compete raises serious safety and conduct concerns.
- The suggestion that this reflects a pattern of behavior from Gadzhiev's team puts pressure on league leadership to respond more formally.
- Limiting the response to a private conversation may draw scrutiny over how the organization handles athlete conduct violations.
