Russian MMA fighter stabbed to death in North Ossetia restaurant

A Russian MMA fighter was stabbed to death at a restaurant in Mozdok, North Ossetia. Alan Khadziev, a two-time world Full Contact Fighting (FCF)…

By: Karim Zidan | 2 years ago
Russian MMA fighter stabbed to death in North Ossetia restaurant
Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

A Russian MMA fighter was stabbed to death at a restaurant in Mozdok, North Ossetia.

Alan Khadziev, a two-time world Full Contact Fighting (FCF) champion who had traveled to Mozdok to attend a wedding ceremony with his brother, was reportedly stabbed in the heart after attempting to intervene in a heated altercation between several visitors at the restaurant.

Khadziev, 31, was transported to a nearby hospital where he died in intensive care. The assailant also injured an unnamed 29-year-old male, who is currently hospitalized in serious condition.

Ibragim Tibilov, the president of the North Ossetia MMA Federation, later confirmed the fighter’s passing.

“He came from Moscow to perform a marriage ceremony with his wife,” Tibilov told Tass.ru. “His friends invited him to a restaurant. A brawl occurred there during which Alan, who was trying to keep the fighters apart, was stabbed right in his heart and died.”

According to reports, Khadziev’s brother attacked the suspected assailant with a knife immediately after Khadziev was injured. The assailant later died from his wounds in hospital. The incident is currently being investigated by local police and military officials, as investigation as Khadziev’s brother is reported to be a soldier.

Khadziev’s combat sports resume included experience in a wide range of disciplines, including boxing kickboxing, wushu sanda, judo and freestyle wrestling. Khadziev transitioned to MMA at age 25 and took part in the FCF International Commonwealth Cup in 2015. He won the competition and later received the honorary title of international Master of Sports.

Khadziev is a two-time winner of the World Championships according to the International Federation of Full Contact Fighting. In 2021, he began to take part in bare-knuckle boxing events, knocking out Adam Abubakarov in the opening seconds of their bout.

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About the author
Karim Zidan
Karim Zidan

Karim Zidan is a investigative reporter and feature writer focusing on the intersection of sports and politics. He has written for BloodyElbow since 2014 and has served as an associate editor since 2016. He also writes for The New York Times and The Guardian. Karim has been invited to speak about his work at numerous universities, including Princeton, and was a panelist at the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival and the Oslo Freedom Forum. He also participated in the United Nations counter-terrorism conference in 2021. His reporting on Ramzan Kadyrov’s involvement in MMA, much of which was done for Bloody Elbow, has led to numerous award nominations, and was the basis of an award-winning HBO Real Sports documentary.

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