Eduard Vartanyan attacked backstage before ACA 202 fight by Gadzhiev associates

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 highlights concerns about fighter access to restricted areas at ACA events. The author notes that while media are strictly limited in accessing locker rooms and backstage areas, fighters not competing on the card and their associates can move freely in these spaces. The post criticizes this policy, suggesting that credentialed media who have covered ACA for years are denied access while fighters outside the event card can be present and even initiate fights. The author acknowledges recent improvements in media access policies but maintains the situation is not ideal.