A violent backstage altercation has cast a shadow over a recent MMA event after Zaur Gadzhiev, or members of his team, physically attacked fellow fighter Eduard Vartanyan in the back-of-house area before Vartanyan was due to compete. Vartanyan was struck on the back of the head in what amounts to a serious breach of pre-fight protocol and basic fighter safety standards.

Magomed "Chaborz" Bibulatov, the 37-year-old veteran who appears to hold a position of authority within the organization, confirmed he addressed the situation directly, stating he had a stern conversation with Gadzhiev following the incident. Despite the severity of the attack, the promotion has decided not to release Gadzhiev from his contract, meaning the consequences for the aggressor appear limited to that verbal reprimand. It remains unclear whether Vartanyan was able to proceed with his scheduled bout after the incident.

Bibulatov carries a 14-2 professional record and has built his career at 165 cm and a 65-inch reach, averaging 3.6 significant strikes landed per minute at 51 percent accuracy while also contributing on the ground with 2.85 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• An unprovoked backstage attack on a fighter preparing to compete raises immediate questions about event security and duty-of-care obligations to athletes.
• The decision to retain Gadzhiev without formal disciplinary action beyond a conversation sets a concerning precedent for how the promotion handles violent conduct outside of competition.
• Vartanyan's status following the assault is unconfirmed, leaving open the question of whether he fought under duress or was pulled from the card entirely.