For the first time ever, Azerbaijan hosted a UFC event as Baku Crystal Hall welcomed fight fans on June 21.
The landmark tournament featured 24 fighters competing across various weight classes in both preliminary and main card bouts.
A total of 12 fighters emerged victorious after a night of high-energy, action-packed matchups.
Main Card Highlights
In the lightweight division, Azerbaijani star Rafael Fiziev secured a key win over Chile’s Ignacio Bahamondes. In the light heavyweight bout, Khalil Rountree of the U.S. defeated fellow American Jamahal Hill.
Azerbaijani Success in the Octagon
Azerbaijan’s Nazim Sadykhov delivered one of the most electrifying moments of the night, knocking out Brazil’s Nikolas Motta in the second round of their lightweight bout.
However, Tofiq Musayev, another Azerbaijani competitor, fell short against Mygtybek Orolbay of Kyrgyzstan in their lightweight clash.
Other Winners
Victorious fighters from around the globe included Muhammad Usman (Nigeria), Tagir Ulanbekov (Russia), Claudia Sigula (Poland), Darya Zheleznyakova (Russia), Park Jun-Yong and Ko Seok-Hyun (both South Korea), Muhammad Naimov (Tajikistan), and Curtis Blaydes (USA).
A Milestone for Azerbaijani Sports
The successful hosting of a premier event like the UFC is seen as a reflection of Azerbaijan’s growing reputation as a global sports hub. UFC President Dana White, during his June 20 meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, praised the exceptional level of organization and expressed gratitude for the government’s strong support.
Azerbaijan has hosted numerous top-tier international sporting events in recent years, earning global recognition for meeting the highest standards in event organization and drawing significant interest from athletes and fans alike.
