Iranian fighter Ali Heibati has been banned for life following a series of controversial incidents during his match against Arkady Osipyan at the Hard Fighting Championship (HFC) in Moscow, Russia, on April 19. One of the most shocking moments occurred before the fight even started, when Heibati kicked a ring girl named Maria.
Incident Before the Match
As Maria walked by, holding a sign signaling the start of the first round, Heibati unexpectedly kicked her. The stunned ring girl turned to confront him, visibly shocked by the aggressive act. She approached Heibati to express her anger, but the referee quickly intervened, issuing a warning to the Iranian fighter.
The Fight and Controversial Ending
Despite the tense start, the match began as scheduled. However, it was short-lived. With just 30 seconds left in the first round, Osipyan knocked Heibati to the ground and delivered a barrage of punches. The referee had no choice but to stop the match, declaring a technical knockout (TKO) victory for Osipyan.
After the fight was halted, tensions escalated even further. As the referee escorted Osipyan to his corner, Heibati got up and attacked his opponent from behind. The chaotic scene prompted several people to rush into the octagon to separate the two fighters, while officials awaited the final decision.
Post-Fight Outburst and Apology
The controversy didn’t end there. During a post-fight interview, Heibati became irritated by the comments made by a male commentator. In response, he threw a high kick at the interviewer and engaged in a heated argument.
Heibati’s troubles continued after he left the octagon, as a group of spectators attacked him, with some even using chairs to strike the Iranian fighter.
After the incident, Heibati issued a public apology on social media, specifically addressing the kick toward Maria. “I was very nervous, and as most people know, emotions were running high before the fight,” Heibati explained. “I acted inappropriately towards Maria, and I want to publicly apologize to her. I have a family and I respect women deeply.”
Lifetime Ban and Consequences
Despite the apology, the Hard Fighting Championship (HFC) issued a lifetime ban on Heibati, citing that his actions violated the promotion’s code of conduct and ethics. HFC also announced that all of Heibati’s prize money from the fight would be awarded to Maria as compensation.
This match marked Heibati’s debut in professional MMA, although he had previous experience in boxing and kickboxing. However, due to his actions, it is unclear whether he will be able to compete in any major events moving forward.
