Report: Sydney MMA event on hold amid concerns former UFC fighter could be target of assassination plot

An MMA event in Sydney is on hold amid concerns a former UFC fighter could be the target of an assassination plot, according to ESPN. The event was set to take place April 19.

Suman Mokhtarian was set to act as a coach at the Dark Matter Fighting Championship at Warwick Farm in Sydney, but NSW police forced officials to cancel the event. Police believe Mokhtarian could be the subject of an assassination attempt.

NSW police told Delmas last week they had “come to the conclusion there is a serious risk to public safety should the event take place,” the Sydney Morning Herald reported. The NSW Combat Sports authority then told Delmas it wouldn’t give a permit for the event to take place.

Dark Matter promoter Andrew Delmas told Sydney radio he was hopeful there’d be a way for the event to continue. He understood why police wanted to cancel, but pointed out the amount of work it took to put it together. Mokhtarian told 2GB in Australia he would not attend the fight night if it meant the event could take place.

“I see their [police] position, but I feel like I’m the meat in the sandwich here,” Delmas said, via ESPN. “It’s very difficult, these type of events are extremely difficult to put together … it takes months of work.”

Delmas also told 2GB police expressed concerns for some fighters on the card. Those concerns came even though the NSW Combat Sports Authority vetted those individuals.

In 2024, Mokhtarian was the target of a previous alleged assassination attempt, according to ESPN. A gunman, allegedly disguised as a delivery driver, opened fire outside the Australian Top team gym in Wentworthwille – a suburb of Sydney – and was later arrested and charged with murder.

Mokhtarian owns Australian Top Team with his brother, Ashkan, according to The Daily Telegraph. Ashkan was arrested in November 2203 on drug supply charges, and he later tried for an appeal for bail that would have allowed for him to attend a drug rehabilitation facility. He was not successful.

Suman Mokhtarian has not fought in a UFC event since 2019 when he lost to Seungwoo Choi. His last win came in August 2017 when he defeated Sunun Sangpet by sumbission.