Zaur Gadzhiev and/or members of his team physically attacked Eduard Vartanyan before Vartanyan's scheduled bout, striking him in the back of the head. The incident occurred backstage at an ACA event. Despite the altercation, Gadzhiev will not be removed from the promotion. Magomed Bubulatov reportedly had a stern conversation with Gadzhiev about the incident. The post indicates this was a pre-fight assault that went unpunished by the promotion beyond a verbal reprimand. The lack of significant consequences for the attack has drawn attention and implied criticism.
A backstage altercation at an ACA event has drawn sharp criticism after Zaur Gadzhiev and members of his team allegedly attacked fellow fighter Eduard Vartanyan before Vartanyan was scheduled to compete, striking him in the back of the head.
The incident reportedly took place in the backstage area of the promotion, moments before Vartanyan was due to walk out for his bout. The nature of the attack — targeting a fighter in the final minutes before competition — has amplified the outrage surrounding the episode.
Despite the severity of the alleged assault, ACA has opted not to remove Gadzhiev from the promotion. According to reports, Magomed Bubulatov, a prominent figure within the organization, spoke directly with Gadzhiev about the incident. That conversation appears to represent the full extent of the consequences handed down, with no suspension or formal disciplinary action announced.
Why it matters
- A pre-fight physical attack on a competing athlete raises serious questions about fighter safety and duty of care within the promotion.
- The decision to retain Gadzhiev after the incident, with only a reported verbal reprimand, sets a concerning precedent for how ACA handles internal misconduct.
- The involvement of Bubulatov in delivering what amounted to a private warning rather than a formal sanction suggests the matter was handled outside any official disciplinary process.
The lack of meaningful institutional response has drawn attention well beyond the fighters directly involved, with implied criticism directed at ACA for what many observers view as an inadequate handling of a serious backstage incident.
