Fighter gets cut from the UFC for violating COVID-19 safety protocol

Unbeaten German-Moroccan mixed martial arts fighter Ottman Azaitar has been fired by the UFC for violating COVID-19 safety protocol.

The 30-year-old was scheduled to face Matt Frevola at UFC 257 on Sunday, January 24 at the Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi but was unceremoniously removed from the card because of his violation.

“He and his team cut off their wrist bands, gave them to somebody outside the bubble, I don’t know how they even did it,” UFC president Dana White explained in an interview with BT Sport.

“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.”

Frevola is now set to lock horns with Arman Tsarukyan, who lost his originally scheduled opponent Nasrat Haqparast due to illness.

As for Azaitar, White revealed that the 13-0 MMA fighter is totally done with the UFC.

“Now when security tried to stop him he wouldn’t stop either way. He’s gone. He’s no longer a UFC fighter and he’s not fighting tonight.” -- BAP, GMA News