BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 22. Azerbaijan's Baku officially threw its hat in the ring for one of the year’s most eagerly awaited sporting spectacles—UFC Fight Night, Trend reports.
For the first time ever, Azerbaijan hosted this prestigious UFC tournament—one of the crown jewels in the world of mixed martial arts—executed on a grand scale with full national commitment and enthusiasm.
The Baku Crystal Hall was abuzz with energy, packed with fans from across the globe who had traveled to witness the global spectacle. Seated in the front rows were some of the biggest names in the UFC world, including President Dana White, reigning bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, welterweight contender Belal Muhammad, and a host of other prominent figures from the octagon.
The evening unfolded with an electrifying lineup of 12 fights—six main card bouts and six preliminary matchups. Each clash brought its own suspense, tactics, and intensity, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats.
The main event lived up to its billing, featuring a thrilling light heavyweight showdown between former UFC champion Jamahal Hill and title contender Khalil Rountree Jr. The bout was a test of strength, style, and determination.
Another fan-favorite fight saw Azerbaijani lightweight Rafael Fiziev go head-to-head with Chile’s Ignacio Bahamondes in a fiercely contested battle that drew thunderous cheers from the home crowd.
Adding to the national pride, Azerbaijani fighters Nazim Sadikhov and Tofig Musayev also stepped into the octagon, facing off against Brazil’s Nicolas Motta and Kyrgyzstan’s Myktybek Orolbay, respectively, in matches that showcased both grit and skill.
Baku’s debut as a UFC host city marked a milestone moment, demonstrating Azerbaijan’s growing influence on the global sports stage.
Below was the lineup for UFC Fight Night in Baku:
Preliminary card: fights start at 20:00 (GMT +4):
1) Featherweight: Irina Alexeyeva (5-2-0, Russia) vs. Klaudia Sigula (6-2-0, Poland)
2) Welterweight: Ko Sok Hyun (1-0-0, South Korea) vs. Elliott Oban (12-2-0, Wales)
3) Heavyweight: Hamdi Abdel Wahab (6-0-0, Egypt) vs. Muhammad Usman (11-4-0, Nigeria)
4) Featherweight: Melissa Mullins (7-1-0, England) vs. Daria Zheleznyakova (9-2-0, Russia)
5) Middleweight: Ismail Naurdiev (24-7-0, Morocco) vs. Park Chung Yong (18-6-0, South Korea)
6) Flyweight: Tagir Ulanbekov (16-2-0, Russia) vs. Maksum Azat (17-1-0, Kazakhstan)
Main card: fights start at 23:00, in the following order:
7) Featherweight: Muhammad Naimov (12-3-0, Tajikistan) vs. Bogdan Grad (15-2-0, Austria)
8) Lightweight: Nazim Sadikhov (10-1-1, Azerbaijan) vs. Nicolas Motta (15-5-0, Brazil)
9) Heavyweight: Curtis Blades (18-5-0, US) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (12-2-1, Russia)
10) Lightweight: Tofig Musayev (debut, Azerbaijan) vs. Myktybek Orolbay (13-2-1, Kyrgyzstan)
11) Lightweight: Rafael Fiziev (12-4-0, Azerbaijan) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (17-5-0, Chile)
12) Light heavyweight: Jamahal Hill (12-3-0, US) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. (14-6-0, US).
