Tragedy in the MMA World: Suman Mokhtarian Murdered
Former UFC fighter and MMA coach Suman Mokhtarian has died after being the victim of a shooting in what authorities are considering a targeted attack in western Sydney. Mokhtarian, 33, was killed while walking in Riverstone around 6 pm on Wednesday. Emergency services attended Annaluke Street and found Mokhtarian with gunshot wounds, but he sadly died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics. Mokhtarian competed in the UFC on two occasions, in 2018 and 2019, before dedicating himself to training. He played a crucial role in the development of some of Australia’s top MMA prospects at the Australian Top Team, alongside his brother Ashkan Mokhtarian. The police have established a crime scene and have initiated an investigation to clarify the circumstances of the shooting.Officers from Riverstone Police Area Command attended and found a man with gunshot wounds. He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, however, he died at the scene. The man is yet to be formally identified. The police established a crime scene and began investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Shortly after, around 6:15 p.m., emergency services were called to Riverstone Road, Riverstone, near Clark Street, after receiving reports of a vehicle fire. New South Wales Fire and Rescue crews attended and extinguished the fire, however, the vehicle was destroyed. Police have established a second crime scene and are working to determine if the two incidents are related. Jesse Swain, a student of Mokhtarian, shared a moving tribute on Instagram. The Instagram post said: “I couldn’t sleep tonight after hearing the news. Suman believed in me more than I believed in myself, I owe him everything I’ve done in MMA. Anyone who knew him personally knows how passionate and stimulating he was and expected nothing but the best from you. He pushed me to heights I never thought I’d reach when I started, stopped me from giving up at the end of 2024 just before getting me professional opportunities and personally told me my potential in the game. I will make sure to fulfill that potential for him.” Mokhtarian was previously the target of an alleged assassination attempt outside the Australian Top Team gym in the suburb of Wentworthville, Sydney, in February 2024.“A man has died in a shooting in a public place in western Sydney today,” reads a statement from the New South Wales Police. “Around 6 pm today, emergency services were called to Annaluke Street, Riverstone, after receiving reports of a shooting.
New South Wales Police Statement
