ISTANBUL

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on Friday met with UFC President Dana White in Baku, as the country is set to hold Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) tournament for the first time, starting Saturday.

White praised preparations for the event and thanked Aliyev for his support in bringing the UFC event to Azerbaijan.

Highlighting the importance of this inaugural event, the Azerbaijani president said: “The organization of the UFC tournament for the first time in our country is significant. We want it to be sustainable,” according to state news agency AZERTAC.

The meeting also addressed Azerbaijan’s broader efforts in sports development, including achievements by local athletes and initiatives aimed at encouraging youth participation in athletics.