Zaur Gadzhiev and/or his teammates were involved in an incident with Eduard Vartanyan before Vartanyan's fight, with Gadzhiev reportedly striking him on the back of the head. Despite this pre-fight altercation, Gadzhiev will not be removed from the promotion. Magomed Bibulatov stated that he had a stern conversation with Gadzhiev about the incident. The situation has been addressed internally but did not result in Gadzhiev's dismissal from the organization.
Flyweight contender Zaur Gadzhiev became embroiled in a pre-fight controversy after reportedly striking Eduard Vartanyan on the back of the head before Vartanyan's bout, with teammates also said to have been involved in the altercation.
The incident drew an internal response from Magomed Bibulatov, known as "Chaborz," who confirmed he spoke directly and sternly with Gadzhiev following the confrontation. Bibulatov, a 37-year-old orthodox flyweight who carries a 14-2-0 professional record, addressed the matter at the organizational level. The veteran fighter and figure within the promotion lands 3.6 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy and averages 2.85 takedowns per 15 minutes, underlining a well-rounded career that has placed him in a position of authority within the setup.
Despite the seriousness of the incident, the outcome stopped short of Gadzhiev's removal from the promotion. Bibulatov's intervention appears to have resolved the matter internally, with a formal warning serving as the consequence for the pre-fight conduct.
Why it matters
- A physical altercation directed at a fighter ahead of his bout raises clear concerns about athlete safety and professionalism backstage.
- Gadzhiev remaining in the promotion signals that the organization chose to handle the situation through internal discipline rather than outright dismissal.
- The incident puts Gadzhiev's conduct under scrutiny and could affect his standing within the promotion going forward.
