Ex-UFC fighter Suman Mokhtarian shot dead at 33 in Australia

Suman Mokhtarian, a former UFC fighter, was the victim of what is believed to be a “targeted” and “brazen” public shooting in a Sydney, Australia, neighborhood on Wednesday night. 

The 33-year-old was killed at an intersection of two residential streets after he was shot in the upper body while out for a walk.

Sydney police have not publicly identified Mokhtarian as the victim, but multiple reports in Australia and members of Australian Top Team, which he coaches, have shared the news on social media. 

Paramedics responded to the scene and pronounced him dead after they were unable to revive him, according to Riverstone Police Area Command.

“It’s very brazen, and it’s a shame that this is happening in our community. You’d want to think that in a residential area that people could wander the streets at that time of night and be safe, but we do believe it’s a targeted attack,” Superintendent Jason Joyce said, per The Sydney Morning Herald. “My heart goes out to the family of this victim, and certainly any of the people that witnessed it, [it] would have been a horrific thing to witness, and it’s certainly not something we tolerate in the community.”

A car was seen speeding away from the scene, and authorities were called to two car fires nearby, leading police to investigate whether they were involved in the shooting. 

Authorities said it was possible the male suspect was in a red Audi, which had been one of the burning cars. 

“We have the description of potentially one male in the vehicle,” Joyce said. “That’s all we know at this stage from the witnesses, [and it] was seen to speed away from the location, and that vehicle was found burnt out shortly thereafter.”

He was undefeated professionally on the regional scene in Australia before taking part in “The Ultimate Fighter, Season 27.” Mokhtarian hasn’t fought in UFC since 2019 and has turned to coaching since, but has reportedly been the target of two previous attempts on his life. 

He was the alleged target of a hit on him last year when a shooter, allegedly posing as a food delivery person, began firing outside the Australian Top Team gym. 

An MMA event was canceled in April amid concerns that a gangland hit would target Mokhtarian at the event.

Jesse Swain, one of Mokhtarian’s students, posted a heartfelt goodbye on Instagram.

“Haven’t been able to sleep tonight after hearing the news so decided to post this now, firstly I want to say Suman believed in me more than I believed in myself I owe all I’ve done in MMA to him,” Swain wrote. “Anyone that knew him personally knows how passionate and invigorating he was and he expected nothing but the best from you.

“He pushed me to heights I never thought I’d get to when starting out, he stopped me from quitting in late 2024 right before he got me the professional opportunities and he personally told me my potential in the game I’ll make sure to fulfill that potential for him.”