Former UFC Fighter Suman Mokhtarian Murdered in Sydney
Former UFC fighter and MMA coach Suman Mokhtarian was killed in what police believe was a targeted attack in western Sydney. The tragic event took place on Wednesday around 6 in the afternoon, while Mokhtarian, 33 years old, was walking in Riverstone. Emergency services responded to Annaluke Street and found Mokhtarian with gunshot wounds. Despite the paramedics’ efforts, he died at the scene. 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 best MMA prospects at the Australian Top Team, alongside his brother Ashkan Mokhtarian. The police have established a crime scene and initiated an investigation to clarify the circumstances of the shooting.Around 6:15 pm, emergency services were alerted to a car fire on Riverstone Road, near Clark Street. Firefighters extinguished the fire, but the vehicle was destroyed. Police are investigating whether both incidents are related. Jesse Swain, a Mokhtarian student, paid a heartfelt tribute on Instagram:“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 achieved in MMA. Anyone who knew him personally knows how passionate and encouraging he was and expected the best from you. He pushed me to heights I never thought I’d reach when I started, stopped me from quitting at the end of 2024 right before he gave me the professional opportunities and personally told me my potential in the game. I will make sure to fulfill that potential for him.”Mokhtarian was the target of a previous alleged assassination attempt outside the Australian Top Team gym in February 2024.A man died in a shooting in a public place in western Sydney today.
NSW Police Statement
