The UFC Fight Night event held in Baku was organized to a high standard, according to Azad Asgarov, President of the Azerbaijan MMA and Grappling Federation.
Speaking to Report, Asgarov praised the performances of Azerbaijani fighters Nazim Sadykhov and Rafael Fiziev, both of whom secured expected victories, Idman.biz reports:
“Nazim Sadykhov and Rafael Fiziev delivered exactly as we anticipated. Only Tofiq Musayev faced an unexpected setback, losing to his opponent in the wrestling exchanges. We’ve all experienced both wins and losses in this sport. Defeat is not a sign of weakness. Tofiq still has fights and contracts ahead of him. Hopefully, he’ll bounce back and make us proud. He’s an experienced athlete and fully understands the situation.”
Asgarov highlighted that Musayev could have withdrawn from the bout, as his opponent came in above the agreed weight.
“But he showed courage and went ahead with the fight, proving that the opponent’s weight didn’t matter to him.”
He also commented on the high interest surrounding Fiziev and the excitement of Sadykhov’s bout:
“Naturally, we paid close attention to every move of our fighters. We wanted them to avoid mistakes and win. Thankfully, both met expectations and delivered victories.”
Reflecting on the night’s main event between Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree, Asgarov pointed out how external factors can influence performance:
“Like I mentioned with Tofiq, other fighters can also face unexpected situations. For example, time zone differences can affect American fighters. Even if they’ve been in Baku for 10 days, we don’t know if they’ve fully adjusted. Mental focus plays a role. Since we don’t know these athletes well, it’s hard to say whether it was due to their fighting style or something else. Aging also affects physical performance. We can’t criticize one fighter and praise another without understanding the full picture.”
On the topic of judging, Asgarov expressed concerns over the decision in the fight between Russia’s Tagir Ulanbekov and Kazakhstan’s Azat Maksum:
“In my opinion, Azat was more active and dominant. Of course, that’s my personal view. The judges made their decision based on their perspective. As someone in the sport, I would have awarded the win to the Kazakhstani fighter. In close contests, victory should go to the more active, dynamic fighter with stronger strikes. I genuinely expected him to win and was surprised by the result.”
Asgarov praised the overall organization of the UFC Fight Night event:
“My overall impression of the event is very positive. The organizers paid attention to every detail. The atmosphere was fantastic, and thousands of fans filled the venue. Truly, event organization in Azerbaijan is always at a high level. It’s hard to imagine anyone leaving dissatisfied. Azerbaijan continues to make a name for itself globally through its world-class hosting. This event also serves as great promotion for our country.”
At UFC Fight Night held at Baku Crystal Hall, Azerbaijani fighters Nazim Sadykhov defeated Brazil’s Nikolas Motta, and Rafael Fiziev claimed victory over Chile’s Ignacio Bahamondes. Tofiq Musayev, however, was defeated by Kyrgyzstan’s Mıktıbek Orolbai. The main event featured an all-American clash between Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree in the light heavyweight division, with Rountree winning after five rounds.
Idman.biz
