Zaur Gadzhiev and/or his teammates allegedly struck Eduard Vartanyan on the back of the head before Vartanyan's fight at an ACA event. The incident occurred in the backstage area prior to the bout. Despite the altercation, Gadzhiev will not be removed from the promotion. ACA official Magomed Bibulatov stated he had a stern conversation with Gadzhiev about the incident. The lack of significant disciplinary action has raised questions about accountability. No details are provided about whether Vartanyan's performance was affected by the pre-fight incident.
An incident backstage at a recent ACA event has drawn scrutiny after Zaur Gadzhiev, or members of his team, allegedly struck Eduard Vartanyan on the back of the head shortly before Vartanyan was set to compete. ACA official Magomed Bibulatov has since confirmed he spoke directly with Gadzhiev about the altercation, though the promotion stopped short of removing the fighter from its roster.
Bibulatov, known in his own competitive career by the nickname Chaborz, is a 37-year-old veteran who compiled a 14-2 record as a fighter before stepping into an organizational role with ACA. Standing five-foot-five with a 65-inch reach, he was an orthodox-stance competitor who averaged 3.6 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy, while also contributing on the ground with 2.85 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A backstage assault on a competing fighter raises serious questions about athlete safety protocols at ACA events.
- Gadzhiev retaining his spot in the promotion despite the incident has prompted concern over accountability standards within the organization.
- Whether the strike affected Vartanyan's performance in his subsequent bout remains unaddressed by the promotion.
Bibulatov's acknowledgment that he had a stern conversation with Gadzhiev represents the full extent of the disclosed disciplinary response. No suspension, fine, or formal sanction has been publicly announced. The promotion has not commented on whether any investigation into the precise circumstances of the altercation is ongoing, nor has it clarified whether Vartanyan received any medical evaluation as a result of the incident before entering the cage.
