Zaur Gadzhiev and/or his teammates were involved in an incident where they struck Eduard Vartanyan on the back of the head before his fight. Despite this altercation, Gadzhiev will not be removed from the ACA promotion. Magomed Bibulatov stated that he had a strict conversation with Gadzhiev about the incident. The post suggests this was a disciplinary matter handled internally by the team rather than resulting in formal league sanctions. No details were provided about potential consequences or whether Vartanyan's performance was affected by the incident.
A pre-fight altercation involving Zaur Gadzhiev and teammate Eduard Vartanyan created a serious disciplinary situation at an ACA event on April 13, 2026, after Gadzhiev and/or members of his team struck Vartanyan on the back of the head ahead of his scheduled bout.
Despite the severity of the incident, Gadzhiev will not face removal from the ACA promotion. Magomed Bibulatov, known as "Chaborz," addressed the matter directly, stating that he held a strict conversation with Gadzhiev regarding his conduct. The situation appears to have been handled as an internal disciplinary matter rather than escalating into formal sanctions from the organization.
Bibulatov is a 37-year-old veteran competing in the flyweight division, carrying a professional record of 14 wins and 2 losses. The Orthodox-stance fighter stands five-foot-five with a 65-inch reach and has demonstrated consistent output throughout his career, averaging 3.6 significant strikes landed per minute at 51 percent accuracy, while also contributing on the wrestling side with 2.85 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The incident raises questions about team conduct and the standards ACA holds fighters and their entourages to backstage
- Vartanyan entered his fight having been struck on the back of the head, though no information has been confirmed about whether this affected his performance
- The decision not to release Gadzhiev signals ACA chose internal resolution over public punishment, which may draw scrutiny regarding consistency in enforcing fighter conduct policies
No details have been disclosed regarding any additional consequences for Gadzhiev beyond the reported conversation with Bibulatov, and it remains unclear whether Vartanyan has formally responded to the incident.
