An incident occurred before a fight at an ACA event where Zaur Gadzhiev and/or members of his team struck Eduard Vartanyan on the back of the head. The altercation took place in the pre-fight area and raised concerns about fighter conduct and security protocols. Despite the incident, the ACA promotion has decided not to remove Gadzhiev from the organization. ACA official Magomed Bibulatov stated that he had a stern conversation with Gadzhiev about the behavior. The decision not to issue more severe punishment has generated discussion about appropriate disciplinary measures in MMA.
ACA has responded publicly to a physical altercation involving fighter Zaur Gadzhiev that took place ahead of a bout at a recent ACA event, confirming that Gadzhiev and members of his team struck Eduard Vartanyan on the back of the head in the pre-fight area.
The promotion has opted not to release Gadzhiev from the organization following the incident. ACA official Magomed Bibulatov, known in competition as "Chaborz," addressed the matter directly, stating that he held a serious conversation with Gadzhiev regarding the unacceptable conduct. Bibulatov, a 37-year-old orthodox fighter carrying a professional record of 14 wins and 2 losses, serves in an organizational capacity at ACA and was the spokesperson on the disciplinary response.
The decision to retain Gadzhiev while stopping short of more severe consequences has drawn scrutiny from within the MMA community, with debate centering on whether the punishment was proportionate given that the attack occurred on a fellow fighter before he was set to compete.
Why it matters
- The altercation took place in a pre-fight area, raising direct questions about ACA's backstage security protocols and fighter supervision.
- Retaining Gadzhiev without harsher consequences sets a visible precedent for how the promotion handles fighter misconduct off the competitive canvas.
- The incident puts ACA's internal disciplinary framework under a spotlight at a time when fighter safety and organizational accountability are under broader discussion across MMA.
