Former UFC fighter Suman Mokhtarian is once again found at the centre of a nasty controversy as police concerns about the alleged assassination plot of Gangland led to the cancellation of a mixed martial arts event held in Sydney.
Suman Moctarian
Moctarian, who is scheduled to coach fighters at the Dark Matter Fighting Championships held at Warwick Farm in southwest Sydney on April 19, is considered a target for potential gang-related attacks. The New South Wales Police stepped in, citing serious risks to public safety and urged the NSW Combat Sports Bureau to deny permission for the event.
This is not the first time that Suman Moctarian has been targeted. In February 2024, he survived a small assassination attempt outside Australia’s Top Team Gym in Wentworthville, Sydney. During the incident, a delivery driver was arrested on him on fire, and gunmen charged with attempted murder fired him. The suspect is currently on bail. Mokhtarian co-owns gym with his brother Ashkan Mokhtarian, who is facing his own legal troubles, including the November 2023 drug supply fee.
Suman Mokhtarian’s MMA career began with a promise to boast an undefeated record before entering the UFC. However, his time at the promotion was short-lived. He suffered back-to-back losses in 2018 and 2019 and retired from professional fights to focus on coaching and managers. He also appeared in Season 27 of The Ultimate Fighter, where he was eliminated early in the competition.
DMFC promoter Andrew Delmas expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation and said months of preparation had fallen into organizing the event. While acknowledging police concerns, Delmas hopes to reach the resolution. The Moctarian himself offered to withdraw from attendance if they allowed the event to proceed safely. Despite his struggles at the UFC, Moftarian remains a prominent figure at the Australian MMA through his coaching and management efforts.