MMA Fighter Was Hit With Lifetime Ban After Ring Girl Incident

An MMA fighter was once hit with a lifetime ban after an incident with a ring girl.

In 2024, Ali Heibati was banned from the Hardcore Fighting Championship for life after a spate of controversial incidents in his main event bout against Arkady Osipyan.

The Iranian kicked a ring girl as she walked past holding up a card that signalled the beginning of round one, with the woman turning around to confront the fighter, before the referee stepped in.

After a brief telling off, Heibati went on to endure a first round technical knockout defeat against Osipyan.

As Osipyan wheeled away in celebration, Heibati rose from the floor and hit his opponent in the back of the head, which sparked an enormous multi-person brawl involving several HFC fighters.

While Heibati went on to apologise for his actions in a video where he stood alongside the ring girl, the promotion still hit him, and others, with lifetime bans.

“What happened in TODAY'S live broadcast is beyond all moral and ethical standards,” HFC wrote in a statement on its Instagram page.

“No one has any right to touch, let alone beat the staff, employees and partners of Hardcore Media.

"Moreover, such marginal behaviour is absolutely unacceptable towards women. Loosening your hands towards ladies is the lowest a man can go to.

“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.

“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 behaviour.

“Respect yourself, respect each other, respect the code of honour and simple moral values. Respect the behavioural norms of the civilized society you are part of.”