The UFC has decided not to release Ottman Azaitar from the promotion following his reported Covid-19 protocol breach during Fight Island in Abu Dhabi last month.
The Moroccan-German, 31, was removed from his January 24 bout against Matt Frevola at UFC 257 the day before the clash after UFC president Dana White said Azaitar had come into contact with someone outside the safety zone "bubble" on Yas Island. White told various media outlets that the unbeaten lightweight would be released from his contract.
However, ESPN reported late on Saturday that White had opted to give Azaitar a “second chance”, with the fighter later writing on Instagram: “Surround yourself with great people. I'm always grateful to everyone who was involved in this situation. The Bulldozer is back.”
Speaking also to ESPN, Azaitar's manager Ali Abdelaziz described the situation as a "misunderstanding," and thanked White for keeping Azaitar on the company’s roster. Azaitar has not spoken publicly about the incident.
Last month, the UFC reported Azaitar had been pulled from the UFC 257 card for a "violation of the health and safety protocols" at the W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, where the fighters and other UFC delegates where based.
White told BT Sport that an unauthorised individual had entered the fighter hotel with a wristband given by Azaitar to deliver a bag to the fighter’s room.
“It’s pretty amazing, actually,” White said at the time. “He and his team cut off their wristbands, gave them to somebody outside the bubble - I don’t know how they even did it.
“That guy taped them, showed up here with a bag, went into a room, shimmied across four balconies, went in his room, dropped the bag off, changed his clothes, and then left.
“When security tried to stop him, he wouldn’t stop either way, and it’s just bad... he’s gone. He’s no longer a UFC fighter and he’s not fighting [at UFC 257].”
Azaitar is undefeated in 13 professional bouts and stands at 2-0 since signing for the UFC in 2019. Both victories came via first-round knockouts.
His promotional debut took place in Abu Dhabi, at UFC 242 in September 2019. UFC 257 was the closing event in the third Fight Island series to take place in the capital.
Azaitar at UFC 242
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11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Top goalscorers in Europe
34 goals - Robert Lewandowski (68 points)
34 - Ciro Immobile (68)
31 - Cristiano Ronaldo (62)
28 - Timo Werner (56)
25 - Lionel Messi (50)
*29 - Erling Haaland (50)
23 - Romelu Lukaku (46)
23 - Jamie Vardy (46)
*NOTE: Haaland's goals for Salzburg count for 1.5 points per goal. Goals for Dortmund count for two points per goal.
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
