Earlier this month, an Iranian MMA fighter caused a controversy in Moscow at an event by Hardocre, the Russian equivalent of Bare Knuckles. Ali Heibati appeared on April 19 for his Hard Fighting Championship (HFC) debut bout against Arkady Osipyan of Armenia. But before the match began, Heibati kicked the ring girl, only identified as Maria, in the buttock as she displayed the round card for the audience and cameras.
The woman turned around in clear surprise, expressing her anger before the referee intervened to separate them, warning the fighter about his behavior. The Iranian’s bout lasted only 30 seconds before the referee waived it off and stopped it. After Osipyan walked back to his corner, Heibati leaped up and began attacking him from behind, landing multiple cheap shots. This prompted several people to enter the cage to separate the two fighters as they awaited the official decision, where Heibati was defeated by technical knockout.
Following the fight, Heibati grabbed the microphone and seemed frustrated by something said to him, directing a kick toward a commentator and engaging in heated exchanges with him. Footage has surfaced showing Heibati being attacked by members of the crowd after his loss.
At a Moscow MMA event by Hardcore, the Russian equivalent of Bare Knuckles, Iranian fighter Ali Heibati kicked a ring girl in the buttocks to push her out of the octagon, claiming it was against his religion. He lost his next fight, got beaten up by the crowd, and was banned for… pic.twitter.com/ANv73gjRIP
— Charlie ⛳️ 💖🗽 🥳 🏕 🚴♀️⛺🐈🐈⬛ (@MAGACharlie2024) April 29, 2024
Some sources say that the Muslim fighter kicked the ring girl for religious reasons including that she wasn’t wearing a hijab.
In Russia Iranian MMA fighter Ali Heibati kicked a ring girl in the posterior, a she was not wearing a hijab.
He went on to lose his fight against an Armenian by a technical knock out, got beaten up by the crowd & received a lifetime ban. pic.twitter.com/IGiMIQouvP
— David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) April 22, 2024
Heibati claimed in a confusing social media post that he did it because of tensions from fistfights that happened before the match, stating that he just wanted to go out and fight.
Heibati wrote:
Hello everyone. This is for Maria. I didn’t act right with her. The reason was that before the MMA fight there were a lot of fistfights. I stayed there in the cage and I just wanted to go out and fight.
I was tense and, as most understand, emotions flourish in the fight, so before the fight, I acted badly towards María. I want to publicly apologise to her. I am a married man, so I respect the female gender. She was doing her job and I, after the fight, didn’t admit my guilt either, because they also hit me on the head. Tell María that I am sorry.
Hardcore responded to the incident in their own social media post, which featured a video of what appears to be the ring girl looking incredibly uncomfortable next to the Iranian fighter who kicked her. In the caption, Hardcore announces a lifetime ban on the fighter and a fine that will be transferred to Maria, the ring girl.
What happened in today’s live broadcast is beyond all moral and ethical standards. No one has any right to touch, let alone beat the staff, employees and partners of Hardcore Media. Moreover, such marginal behavior is absolutely unacceptable towards women. Loosening your hands towards ladies is the lowest a man can go to.
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The League decided that in the context of the current situation, the apologies already made by Ali Heibati are absolutely not enough. He will be fined for his fee, and the entire amount will be transferred to ring-girl Maria.
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Also, all participants of mass backstage fights will be disqualified and removed from appearances in Hardcore media promotions. At this moment, we are identifying all the names and culprits who have participated in these acts of unsportsmanlike behavior.
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Respect yourself, respect each other, respect the code of honor and simple moral values. Respect the behavioral norms of the civilized society you are part of.
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With respect and sincere apologies to our audience, your Hardcore.
Heibati truly messed around and “found out” as he suffered a loss in what will be his first and last HCF fight, was jumped by the crowd, and ended up with a lifetime ban.
