Ex-UFC fighter and embattled president of the Bulgarian Mixed Martial Arts Federation (BULMMAF), Stanislav Nedkov, is once again facing public outrage. This time, it’s over shocking footage from 2017 that has resurfaced, showing him manhandling a young female champion in a cage during an after‑party.
The incident took place in Sofia following the IMMAF European Championships. In the video, a shirtless Nedkov — wearing only jeans — is seen squaring up against Ophelia Tudzharova, then a 21‑year‑old European Lightweight Champion, as a drunken crowd looks on. Empty alcohol bottles litter the cage walkway, while a live Bulgarian folk band plays in the background.
The footage shows Nedkov throwing the much smaller Tudzharova around the cage, leaving her visibly distressed. She has since revealed that she suffered lasting damage to her arm during the encounter — an injury that ultimately forced her to retire from MMA.
Coercion and Threats
Speaking on the national breakfast show This Morning (BTV), Tudzharova said she never wanted to enter the cage that night but was pressured into it. She alleges that Nedkov threatened that if she refused to “prove she was a real champion,” she would be barred from representing Bulgaria at the upcoming World Championships in Bahrain.
When she later spoke out about the incident on Facebook, Nedkov reportedly banned her, her coaches, and her team from all BULMMAF activities for life.
The Heated Live Confrontation
The recent BTV broadcast featured both Nedkov and Tudzharova in a 21‑minute live debate hosted by Maria Tsantsarova. Nedkov repeatedly interrupted both Tudzharova and the host, insisting it was nothing more than a “training session” — a claim that was widely ridiculed online, with many pointing out the absurdity of “training shirtless in jeans” at an alcohol‑fuelled after‑party.
Tudzharova described feeling trapped, humiliated, and physically harmed. Nedkov dismissed her account as exaggeration and attempted to deflect attention by accusing former BULMMAF coaches of being “criminals and drug dealers.”
Public Backlash
The interview segment quickly went viral online, racking up nearly half a million views and over 500 comments, with many Bulgarians calling for Nedkov’s resignation.
This is not the first time Nedkov has faced a scandal. In 2023, reports surfaced that he had personally overseen the hiring of a convicted child rapist as head coach of Bulgaria’s national youth MMA team.
With accusations of corruption, sexual harassment, and bullying, combined with plummeting membership numbers and gyms abandoning the federation, many are questioning how long Nedkov can cling to power. Rival MMA federations now reportedly have more members than his own — a dramatic fall from grace for the once‑touted face of Bulgarian MMA.
What is the controversy surrounding Stanislav Nedkov?
Nedkov is at the centre of a scandal after 2017 footage resurfaced showing him manhandling a young female champion, Ophelia Tudzharova, in a cage. He has also been accused of hiring a convicted child rapist as a youth MMA coach.
What happened to Ophelia Tudzharova?
Tudzharova claims she was injured during the 2017 incident with Nedkov, which led to her retirement. After speaking out, she, her coaches, and her team were reportedly banned for life from all BULMMAF activities.
Has Stanislav Nedkov responded to the allegations?
In a heated live TV confrontation, Nedkov denied the allegations, insisting the footage showed a consensual “training session.” He has also filed a lawsuit against Tudzharova.
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