On June 21, Baku Crystal Hall hosted Azerbaijan’s first-ever UFC tournament, featuring a total of 24 fighters competing in various weight classes.
The event included preliminary and main card bouts, with 12 fighters emerging victorious in thrilling contests.
The main card highlighted lightweight bouts, including Azerbaijan’s Rafael Fiziyev against Chile’s Ignacio Bahamondes, and a light heavyweight clash between American fighters Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree.
Rafael Fiziyev and Khalil Rountree won their respective fights.
Another Azerbaijani fighter, Nazim Sadykhov, faced Brazil’s Nikolas Motta. In an intense and exciting bout, Sadykhov knocked out his opponent in the second round. However, in the lightweight division, Azerbaijan’s Tofiq Musayev was defeated by Kyrgyzstan’s Myktybek Orolbai.
Other victorious fighters included Muhammad Usman (Nigeria), Tagir Ulanbekov (Russia), Klaudia Sigula (Poland), Darya Zheleznyakova (Russia), Park Jun-yong and Seok Hyun Ko (both South Korea), Mahammad Naimov (Tajikistan), and Curtis Blaydes (USA).
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Hosting a prestigious event like the UFC in Baku is another testament to Azerbaijan’s growing reputation as a global sports hub. On June 20, UFC President Dana White, during a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, praised the high-level preparations for the tournament and expressed gratitude for the support provided by the state.
The successful organization of this UFC event in Baku is no coincidence. Azerbaijan has previously hosted numerous prestigious international sporting events to the highest standards, earning widespread acclaim from athletes and spectators alike.
Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Arzu Aliyeva, and their family members watched the tournament.
