An MMA event in Sydney later this month has been called off based on police recommendations over concerns a high-profile figure in the sport could be assassinated.
But the former UFC fighter and now coach claims police never notified him that he was the alleged target of an assassination plot.
Suman Mokhtarian has already survived one alleged gangland hit, when a gunman opened fire outside his gym in Wentworthville.
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Asked if police had spoken to him about a potential threat, Mokhtarian said, “Never”.
“If I was a target, why wouldn’t I be notified, why wouldn’t I be called, why wouldn’t I be told anything,” he told 9News.
Mokhtarian and the events promoter both insisted he never intended to be at the Warwick Farm event.
“To go from having a promotion to actually nothing is a little wild, in my opinion,” promoter Andrew Delmas said, arguing the event should go ahead.
NSW Premier Chris Minns also weighed in on the incident.
“I just caution people not to presume that this is an automatic reflection on the UFC, or even fans of the UFC, I think there’s a distinction there,” Minns said.
The promoter of the event at Warwick Farm in two weeks also said Mokhtarian was never going to attend the event and it should go ahead.
Up-and-coming fighters are also disappointed the event has been cancelled.
“These opportunities are very valuable for us fighters, because we get to fight in front of our home fans, especially in Sydney,” MMA fighter Farhood Khalatbar said.
Police said they gave a recommendation to the Combat Sports Authority that the event should not proceed based on an alleged threat to life and the authority accepted the recommendation.
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