Zaur Gadzhiev and possibly his teammates were involved in an incident where they struck Eduard Vartanyan on the back of the head before his fight at an ACA event. Despite the altercation, Gadzhiev will not be expelled from the promotion. Magomed Bubulatov stated that he had a strict conversation with Gadzhiev regarding the incident. The situation highlights ongoing concerns about fighter conduct and teammate behavior at events.
Zaur Gadzhiev has been disciplined by ACA following an altercation with Eduard Vartanyan at a recent ACA event, the promotion confirmed.
According to the report, Gadzhiev, and potentially members of his team, struck Vartanyan on the back of the head ahead of Vartanyan's fight at the event. The incident raised immediate concerns about fighter conduct and the behavior of cornermen and teammates at ACA shows.
Despite the seriousness of the altercation, Gadzhiev will not face expulsion from the organization. ACA official Magomed Bubulatov confirmed that he held a direct and serious conversation with Gadzhiev in response to the episode.
Why it matters
- An attack on a fighter before his bout introduces physical and psychological risks that could affect performance and safety.
- The decision to retain Gadzhiev, rather than dismiss him, will draw scrutiny regarding the promotion's disciplinary standards.
- The incident puts a spotlight on how ACA manages conduct between rival camps at live events.
The handling of the situation by ACA leadership suggests the promotion is seeking to address the matter internally rather than through outright expulsion, though Bubulatov's direct intervention signals that the organization views the conduct as a genuine breach of acceptable behavior.
