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.
Dana White’s statement on Ottman Azaitar’s release.
“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.”