MMA star Ali Haverty has been permanently banned from Hardcore Fighting Championship.
The Iranian fighter was involved in several controversial incidents before and after his fight against Arkady Osipian in the main event of Hardcore MMA 90 in Moscow on Friday night.
Before the match began, Haverty bizarrely kicked a ring girl who passed by holding up a card announcing the start of the first round.
The woman turned and faced Haverty, and the unlikely rivals exchanged words before the referee intervened to keep the peace.
Haverty was briefly reprimanded for his behavior, but was allowed to fight, albeit briefly, as Osipian stopped him with a flurry of strikes and secured a first-round victory by technical knockout.
After his opponent drove away to celebrate, Haverty got off the floor and continued to land heavy punches to the back of the head.
Shortly after, an ugly multi-person brawl involving several HFC fighters broke out, and the promotion responded by issuing Haverty and others a lifetime ban.
The lightweight fighter apologized for his actions in an awkward video alongside a ring girl who was clearly uncomfortable in his presence shortly after being the victim of an unwarranted attack.
He was deemed not to have done enough to make things right.
“What happened on today's live broadcast exceeds all moral and ethical standards,” HFC said in a statement on its Instagram page.
“No one has the right to touch Hardcore Media staff, employees or partners, much less hit them.
“Besides, such marginal behavior is absolutely unacceptable towards women. It is the worst thing a man can do to go easy on a woman.
“The League has determined that the apology already made by Ali Haverty is absolutely not sufficient given the current situation. He will be fined and the full amount will be transferred to his ring girl Maria.
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“Also, all participants in the major backstage fight will be disqualified and removed from appearing in the HARDCORE MEDIA promotion.
“At this time, we are in the process of identifying the names and perpetrators of all those who participated in these unsportsmanlike acts.
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“Respect yourself, respect each other, respect the code of honor and simple moral values. Respect the code of conduct of the civilized society to which you belong.”
