Former UFC featherweight Suman Mokhtarian was shot and killed on Wednesday evening in northwest Sydney, marking a tragic end to a career that once held great promise in mixed martial arts.

Mokhtarian, 33, was reportedly walking near his home when a red Audi pulled up beside him and multiple gunshots were fired around 6 p.m. local time.
Emergency services arrived within minutes but pronounced him dead at the scene.

Mokhtarian rose to prominence on The Ultimate Fighter: Season 27 in 2018, which earned him a UFC contract.
His run in the promotion was brief – he suffered losses to Sodiq Yusuff and Seung Woo Choi, before parting ways with the organization in 2019.

Despite a modest 8–2 professional record, Mokhtarian left a lasting mark on the Australian MMA community through his coaching and his work as co-owner of Australian Top Team, a gym he ran with his brother and fellow UFC veteran Ashkan Mokhtarian.

Following his fighting career, Mokhtarian became known as a dedicated coach and mentor to up-and-coming athletes in Sydney’s western suburbs.

The murder comes after a string of violent incidents targeting Mokhtarian.

In February 2024, he narrowly survived an attack outside his Wentworthville gym, when a gunman disguised as a delivery driver opened fire.
The suspect in that case was arrested and charged with attempted murder but was later released on bail pending trial.

Investigators believe Mokhtarian’s murder may be connected to ongoing gang conflicts in the region.

New South Wales Police have launched a homicide investigation and are examining CCTV footage from the area while appealing for witnesses who may have seen the red Audi or its occupants.
No arrests have yet been made.

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