The world of MMA has never been short on controversy and shocking moments. From PRIDE FC’s alleged ties to the Yakuza—leading to the promotion losing its TV deal and ultimately folding—to the scandal involving coach James Krause, who was released from the UFC after betting on his own fighter through insider trading, the sport has seen it all. Now, another unsettling incident has rocked the MMA community. Former UFC fighter and coach Suman Mokhtarian recently had to cancel an MMA event after authorities deemed it too dangerous to proceed.

Mokhtarian was set to coach and corner his fighters at the Dark Matter Fighting Championship at Warwick Farm in southwest Sydney on April 19. However, the New South Wales Police intervened, expressing serious concerns for both his safety and public security. They urged the event organizers to call off the competition, fearing that Mokhtarian could be the target of an alleged assassination attempt.

Sydney radio station 2GB was the first to break the story, followed by Dark Matter promoter Andrew Delmas discussing the crisis and potential solutions with radio host Ben Fordham. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Mokhtarian has faced such threats. The former UFC featherweight contender, holding a professional record of 8-2-0, was previously targeted outside the Australian Top Team gym in Sydney in February 2024, which he co-owns with his brother, Ashkan Mokhtarian. During that incident, the alleged perpetrator, disguised as a deliveryman, opened fire on Mokhtarian.

The gunman was arrested and charged, according to 2GB radio station. However, he was later granted bail. The 32-year-old reportedly stated that he would be happy to skip the event if it meant it could proceed smoothly. But the question remains: Who is the former UFC fighter and why is this happening to him?

Suman Mokhtarian: Life outside the cage

Mokhtarian is not just a prizefighter who had a good run in his MMA career—he’s also a coach and the owner of the Australian Top Team gym. Moreover, the former 145fer was also featured on the 27th season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’. However, his responsibilities outside the cage had made him consider putting professional fighting on the shelf even back in 2018.

“I was considering not fighting because I have so many responsibilities with my gym, Australian Top Team, my promotion, Urban Fight Night, and my management company, One Out Fighter Management,” he told UFC. “I’ve had my hands full. It’s a dream to fight in the UFC. But I didn’t think I’d need TUF as my way into the UFC. I was confident that if I fought and got another win, then I would’ve done enough, but you never know. There are so many good fighters out there. And everyone’s knocking on the UFC door, so you gotta be a bit blessed to have your name called.”

To keep everything running smoothly, he handed his responsibilities over to his older brother, Ashkan. He is already familiar with the UFC world, having fought as a flyweight under the promotion in 2017. Suman spoke about his brother to UFC and said, “My brother wasn’t always the best, but he was always there when I needed him. Everyone’s looking for heroes on TV, but we usually forget they’re right in front of us.”

However, the 32-year-old’s brother faced some serious legal issues as well. According to the Daily Telegraph, Ashkan was arrested on d–g supply charges in November 2023. He later lodged an appeal for bail that would have allowed him to attend a drug rehabilitation facility. However, it was unsuccessful. Given this turbulent past, do you think the alleged assassination attempt could be connected? Share your thoughts in the comments below.