Latest news with #Baku
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC on ABC 8's Muhammad Naimov draws 'extra energy' fighting closer to Tajikistan
Muhammad Naimov is proud to be one the few fighters from Tajikistan in UFC, but believes many more will be there soon. Currently, Naimov (12-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is just one of four fighters from the Central Asian country. Nurullo Aliev, Muin Gafurov and Loik Radzhabov are the other three Tajik representatives on the UFC roster. Advertisement "Three years ago, four years ago, five years ago, all Tajik people, we all watch UFC," Naimov said at the UFC on ABC 8 media day. "... UFC for us, it was like something different. It was really hard to get to UFC, and in one year, four Tajik people get signed by UFC. So, it's always hard to shoulder and show up, but I always telling myself, I'm fighting for myself first of all. Second thing I represent my name, my family, and then my country. "So, if you think like this, you're not going to perform good: 'All Tajik people watching me.' No, this is energy for me. I really like it. I know Saturday night in Tajikistan, all people around Tajikistan like in villages, in my motherland Kulob city and also in Dushanbe – everybody in restaurants, cafes, cinema, everywhere they're gonna watch the fight. That's like extra energy for me." In his second appearance of 2025, Naimov faces Bogdan Grad (15-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in the main card opener of UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. It's the closest Naimov has been to home for a fight since signing with the UFC. He expects to see many people from his home country in the crowd, and hopes his performance will help fuel the upcoming generation of fighters. "MMA level is growing up every day," Naimov said. "Day by day, month by month, it's getting better in Tajikistan. We got very tough young generation in amateur in (IMMAF). They're becoming world champions, Europe champions, and also Asian champions. It's like great expereince before they start pro career. Advertisement "We are just four guys – four Tajik fighters from Tajikistan in UFC now. That's how you know people love us, respect us, they always show up for us." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Baku: Muhammad Naimov draws 'extra energy' fighting close to home
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Curtis Blaydes: UFC Baku fight vs. newcomer Rizvan Kuniev 'doesn't help me at all'
Curtis Blaydes believes he's stuck in neutral ahead of UFC on ABC 8. In his first appearance since challenging for the interim heavyweight title last year, Blaydes (18-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) will welcome newcomer Rizvan Kuniev to the promotion. UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. Advertisement "My expectations for the fight this weekend are same as always: I expect to win," Blaydes told reporters at media day. While Blaydes aims to get back into the win column after losing an interim title bid against Tom Aspinall at UFC 304, the heavyweight wrestler doesn't see the matchup against Kuniev (13-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) as one that will get him closer to title contention. "This fight doesn't help me at all," Blaydes said. "This guy is unranked. So, I could knock him out with a flying knee – it doesn't matter." It's rare that a promotionally ranked top-five fighter would face an unranked fighter, but circumstances made it necessary for Blaydes. While Kuniev may not be a name that will help him move back up the ladder, it will help his bank account. Since his pay is the same whether or not there's a number next to his opponent's name, Blaydes decided it was time to collect a paycheck. Advertisement "If you look at the availability of guys, there wasn't anyone available," Blaydes said. "Who wants to wait? I haven't had a fight since last July. I'd like to make some money this year." Blaydes recognizes that Kuniev is a threat inside the cage, but he views all heavyweights as such due to one-punch knockout power. If he's able to avoid that big shot and find a finish of his own, "Razor" Blaydes would love to get back into position to fight for the title soon, but he knows he'll have more work to do. "I would love to fight for the title," Blaydes said. "That would be another $800 grand in my pocket, but it's not gonna happen, so I'm not even gonna put that in my mind. Having that expectation would just lead to me being disappointed, and I don't want to be disappointed. So, I'll be realistic: I'll probably need another fight." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Curtis Blaydes fighting at UFC Baku for paycheck, not rankings boost
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Heavyweights call for Jones to be stripped - what happens next?
With the future of the UFC heavyweight division continuing to remain unclear, a number of fighters have called for Jon Jones to be stripped of his Jones last fought in November, defending his belt against Stipe Miocic instead of facing Britain's interim champion Tom 32, has held the interim belt for 18 months and despite a number of pleas for a unification bout with Jones, the fight has yet to president Dana White says the promotion has been trying to finalise the contest, but Jones is yet to commit, teasing Aspinall on social media and hinting at his heavyweight bout in Baku, Azerbaijan this weekend, American Curtis Blaydes said the UFC should take the title off Jones."If he doesn't fight I would like him to be stripped. We all get it. He's the GOAT, he's great, but if you're not going to be active, what are you doing holding the belt?" said Blaydes."I get what he's doing. He enjoys this. He enjoys his name being talked about. I'm over it already."Blaydes' opponent Risvan Kuniev echoed his thoughts, calling for Jones to be stripped and describing Aspinall as the "true champion".With the UFC heavyweight division in still in limbo, BBC Sport looks at what could happen next. Jones v Aspinall actually happens This is the ideal scenario with White describing the potential matchup as the "biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history".Jones, 37, is a former light-heavyweight champion and widely considered one of, if not the best, MMA fighter of all has an overall record of 28 wins, one loss and one no-contest, and holds the record for most title fight wins in the UFC, with meanwhile, has finished all eight of his fights in the UFC and holds a number of records, including the shortest fight time average in the promotion's history, at two minutes and two UFC are trying to make the fight happen with New York in November and Las Vegas in December being the most likely options for the event to take wants the bout, but the sticking point is has been non-committal, suggesting he is retired, saying fighting Aspinall does "nothing for his legacy", and instead calling out former champion Francis the months tick by with no solution between the UFC, Jones and Aspinall, hopes of the bout taking place are dwindling. Aspinall is promoted to undisputed Should Jones be stripped or bring the curtain down on his distinguished career like he has been hinting, Aspinall would become the first Briton to unify the UFC heavyweight is 586 days since Aspinall beat Sergei Pavlovich with his interim title reign being the longest in UFC previous record was former interim bantamweight title holder Renan Barao, with the Brazilian holding the belt for 534 Aspinall has repeatedly called for the bout with Jones, he has added that he has no problem with the American - he just wants to become the undisputed this month White described Aspinall as "the man" and said the Briton's next fight will be for the undisputed if Jones retires or is stripped of his belt, who could be the other contenders? Gane, Volkov and Almeida could challenge Should Aspinall be promoted to undisputed heavyweight champion, France's Ciryl Gane is the most likely candidate to first challenge for the 35-year-old is a former interim champion and has twice missed out on the undisputed crown - to Ngannou in 2022 and Jones the following the defeat by Jones, Gane has won two fights and climbed to second in the UFC heavyweight has previously called for a fight with Gane, but the bout didn't contenders who could face Aspinall are Russia's Alexander Volkov and Brazil's Jailton Almeida, with the Briton recently saying on his YouTube he had been training with the potential of fighting 36, is third in the heavyweight rankings and lost to Aspinall in has won four of his last five fights but suffered a narrow defeat in December to 33, meanwhile, is sixth in the UFC rankings and is on a two-fight win streak.
Al Arabiya
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Bulgaria closes Tehran embassy as Iran-Israel conflict intensifies
Bulgaria has closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated diplomatic staff and their families to neighboring Azerbaijan as the conflict between Iran and Israel intensifies, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov told local media on Friday. Zhelyazkov said 12 people from the embassy and their families were evacuated after Israel advised residents to evacuate the third district of Tehran. 'The Bulgarian embassy is in the immediate vicinity of this area and we decided to have our diplomats leave the country,' he said, adding that the embassy would continue to operate from Baku. The staff drove six hours in a convoy to the border, where they waited another six hours because of border checks, he said.
Reuters
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Bulgaria closes Tehran embassy as Iran-Israel conflict intensifies
SOFIA, June 19 (Reuters) - Bulgaria has closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated diplomatic staff and their families to neighbouring Azerbaijan as the conflict between Iran and Israel intensifies, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov told local media on Friday. Zhelyazkov said 12 people from the embassy and their families were evacuated after Israel advised residents to evacuate the third district of Tehran. "The Bulgarian embassy is in the immediate vicinity of this area and we decided to have our diplomats leave the country," he said, adding that the embassy would continue to operate from Baku. The staff drove six hours in a convoy to the border, where they waited another six hours because of border checks, he said.
