Ex-UFC Fighter Fatally Shot Months After Police Voiced Concerns Over Assassination Threat

A shocking tragedy has rocked the MMA world as Suman Mokhtarian, the founder of the Australian Top Team, former UFC athlete, and "Ultimate Fighter" veteran, was killed in what authorities are calling a targeted gangland shooting in Sydney, Australia. The 30-year-old was gunned down on Wednesday evening while walking in the Riverstone district of Sydney. Emergency crews rushed to the scene around 6 p.m. local time, where Suman Mokhtarian was found fatally wounded.

According to The Daily Telegraph, a vehicle was discovered set ablaze nearby, leading investigators to believe the shooting was a "brazen" and premeditated attack. Police have not yet confirmed whether the burned vehicle is directly linked to Mokhtarian's death, but multiple outlets have described the scene as indicative of a professional hit.

This devastating loss comes just months after Mokhtarian survived a prior assassination attempt. In February, the ex-fighter was shot at by a man disguised as a delivery driver outside his Australian Top Team gym in the Sydney suburb of Wentworthville. Mokhtarian miraculously survived, and the alleged gunman was later arrested and charged with attempted murder, before being released on bail.

Following that incident, concerns about Mokhtarian's safety intensified. Police reportedly warned that he could remain a target, which later influenced their decision to intervene in a major combat sports event connected to the fighter.

Mokhtarian had been scheduled to appear as a coach at the Dark Matter Fighting Championship, an event set for April 19 at Warwick Farm in southwest Sydney. But NSW Police stepped in, citing a "serious risk to public safety" if the event went forward.

Dark Matter promoter Andrew Delmas confirmed to 2 GB's Ben Fordham that the event was canceled after police refused to grant a permit through the NSW Combat Sports Authority. "I see their position, but I feel like I'm the meat in the sandwich here," Delmas said. "These types of events are extremely difficult to put together … it takes months of work."

Authorities reportedly feared the venue could become a potential target due to Mokhtarian's presence, despite all fighters being vetted in advance.

As of Thursday morning (AEDT), Sydney's 2GB radio station first confirmed the news of Mokhtarian's death, with law enforcement now treating the case as a targeted gangland execution. Police have not publicly identified suspects, though investigators are exploring potential links to organized crime activity in the region.

Before his shocking death, Suman Mokhtarian had built a name as one of Australia's most passionate forces in mixed martial arts. Born in 1992, the Iranian-Australian fighter rose through the ranks with a fierce reputation inside the cage and a mentor's heart outside it. Competing as a featherweight, Mokhtarian notched an 8-2 professional record, making his way onto "The Ultimate Fighter: Season 27" before earning a spot in the UFC, where he faced opponents like Sodiq Yusuff and Seung Woo Choi.

But even as his time in the Octagon wound down, Mokhtarian's impact on Australian MMA was only getting started. Alongside his brother Ashkan Mokhtarian, he founded Australian Top Team, a Sydney-based gym that quickly became a breeding ground for the country's next generation of fighters. Known for his hands-on coaching style, Suman transformed himself from competitor to mentor, helping countless athletes chase the same dream that once drove him.

Outside the ring, Mokhtarian was a man in motion, juggling coaching, fighter management, and event promotion across Sydney's growing combat-sports scene. Yet behind the success was a darker undercurrent that began surfacing earlier this year.

His death marks another dark chapter in Sydney's ongoing wave of gang-related violence, leaving the MMA community mourning a man who, despite surviving one attempt on his life, couldn't escape the dangers that had followed him for months.