The combat sports spectacle Maxfight 62, held last Saturday in Sveti Vlas, Bulgaria, concluded with an unprecedented scandal that shocked the MMA community.
In the main event of the evening between local fighters Mitko Iliev and Georgi Valentinov, a gruesome incident occurred – in the second round, Valentinov bit Iliev’s ear and bit off a piece of tissue.
It all happened near the ropes, and Iliev repeatedly warned the referee that his opponent had used his teeth. However, the fight was not immediately stopped. Only when a piece of the ear was found on the ring floor did the referee realize the seriousness of the situation and halt the bout. Video footage of the incident is already circulating on social media, with numerous warnings that it contains extremely disturbing content.
The Maxfight organization reacted immediately. Valentinov was instantly disqualified and then permanently expelled from the promotion.
Chaos erupted at Maxfight 62 in St. Vlas when Bulgarian fighter Georgi Valentinov sank his teeth into his opponent’s ear during a live MMA bout—biting off a full section and spitting it mid-fight, in a scene eerily reminiscent of Tyson vs. Holyfield. St. Vlas, Bulgaria – July 19,… pic.twitter.com/jnGvsRMfiA
— Vechtsport Info 🇳🇱 🇲🇦 🇧🇪 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@vechtsport_Info) July 21, 2025
The president of the Maxfight organization, Lyuben Dzhtubrilov, spoke about the incident in a clear tone:
“Georgi Valentinov committed a deliberate, brutal, and horrific act by biting off a piece of his opponent’s ear. This was not a sporting situation nor a moment of losing control. This was a heinous act that has no justification whatsoever.”
He added that Valentinov has no right to appeal or a second chance.
The incident immediately drew associations with the 1997 boxing classic, when Mike Tyson bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear and was disqualified. Then, as now, the combat sports world was left stunned by the brutality of a moment that transcended the boundaries of sport.
Source: Nova Photo: Printscreen X