Zaur Gadzhiev and potentially 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 the altercation, the league has decided not to remove Gadzhiev from the organization. Magomed Bibulatov stated that he had a stern conversation with Gadzhiev regarding the incident. The decision to keep Gadzhiev in the promotion despite this behavior has drawn attention. This incident represents a disciplinary issue that was handled internally rather than with severe punishment.
A pre-fight altercation involving Zaur Gadzhiev and Eduard Vartanyan has drawn scrutiny after reports emerged that Gadzhiev struck Vartanyan on the back of the head before Vartanyan was set to compete. Gadzhiev's teammates are also said to have been involved in the incident, which took place ahead of Vartanyan's bout.
Despite the severity of the alleged conduct, the league opted not to remove Gadzhiev from the organization. The decision to handle the matter internally rather than impose a formal expulsion has attracted considerable attention within the MMA community.
Magomed Bibulatov, known by the nickname Chaborz, confirmed that he personally addressed the situation with Gadzhiev directly. The 37-year-old orthodox fighter carries a professional record of 14 wins and 2 losses and has established himself as a respected figure within the promotion. Bibulatov indicated the conversation was a stern one, though no further disciplinary escalation appears to have followed.
Why it matters
- A pre-fight physical incident involving a fellow competitor raises serious questions about athlete conduct policies within the promotion.
- The league's choice to retain Gadzhiev rather than terminate his contract sets a visible precedent for how internal disciplinary matters are resolved.
- Bibulatov's direct involvement signals that senior fighters and organization leadership are taking the incident seriously, even if the formal consequences remained limited.
- Vartanyan's preparation for his fight may have been disrupted by the altercation, though the extent of any impact has not been confirmed.
