Sport24.az
UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) has signed a multi-year cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan and the Baku City Circuit Operating Company. According to Sport24.az, the agreement envisages holding "UFC Fight Night" events annually in Baku until 2028.
The first event within this framework will take place on June 27 at the National Gymnastics Arena.
It was reported that UFC's debut event, held in June last year at the Baku Crystal Hall, brought together more than 14,000 spectators:
"The complete sale of tickets was an indicator of great interest in MMA in the region. At a meeting held in Las Vegas, UFC President and CEO Dana White and Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov discussed the continuation of this success and opportunities for further development of the partnership."
According to the head of the UFC, Baku is one of the best cities in the world to visit:
"The city is very beautiful, the people who live here are extremely friendly. I was amazed when I visited there last year. The hospitality was at the highest level. The fans show incredible enthusiasm for sports, and at the same time they were quite knowledgeable. People come from all over the world and they must definitely experience it for themselves."
Farid Gayibov emphasized that the achievement of a long-term partnership with the UFC is an important step in terms of strengthening Azerbaijan's position as a global sports venue:
"Based on the experience of hosting prestigious events such as the first European Games and "Formula 1", this cooperation will accelerate the development of mixed martial arts and create new opportunities for athletes in the region, as well as in Azerbaijan. UFC has already become an important part of the Baku sports calendar and creates an opportunity for local fighters to perform in front of their home fans. This partnership further proves Azerbaijan's potential to host high-level sports events internationally."
The General Director of the Baku City Circuit Operating Company, Maqsud Farzullayev, said that after the successful and fully attended debut event of the UFC last year, they are pleased to expand the partnership and hold "Fight Night" events in Baku again:
"We expect that interest in this year's event will be even higher and the number of visitors to the city will increase. We are confident that the event will be held on a larger scale and at a high level and will provide an unforgettable experience for the participants."
