Ottman Azaitar has been released by the UFC for violating COVID-19 safety protocols on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi.
Azaitar had been scheduled to fight Matt Frevola on Saturday at UFC 257, but did not make it to Friday’s official weigh-ins. The reason was unknown until the UFC announced it was “aware of a recent violation of the health and safety protocols involving” Azaitar, causing the cancellation of his bout.
UFC president Dana White told MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun that Azaitar was cut for his actions and offered details on what transpired.
Dana White’s statement on Ottman Azaitar’s release.
Full interview for @UFCarabia: https://t.co/I4vfjmbgFC pic.twitter.com/icpVDTs0uS
— Farah Hannoun (@Farah_Hannoun) January 22, 2021
“He and his team cut their wristbands off and got them to people on the outside, one guy,” White said. “This guy got inside the bubble, went in through a room, shimmied down four balconies, went in through (Azaitar’s) balcony, and dropped off a bag of we don’t know what. Then he changed his clothes and went back outside of the bubble. We got everything on camera, we saw the whole thing, and how it all went down, pulled his fight and cut him.”
The UFC confirmed that Azaitar was removed from the safety zone on “Fight Island.”
Azaitar, 30, is undefeated overall at 13-0. He was off to a blistering start in the UFC, scoring back-to-back first-round knockouts of Teemu Packalen and Khama Worthy in his first two fights with the promotion, the latter of which took place last September.
UFC releases Ottman Azaitar for violating ‘Fight Island’ safety protocols