A mysterious incident involving UFC fighter Ottman Azaitar took place during the buildup to UFC 257. The event which featured Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor took place on January 24, 2021. Azaitar was set to take on Matt Frevola at the event that was taking place in Abu Dhabi, UAE. However, Azaitar’s match was canceled as he was caught up in an incident where the fighter and his team violated COVID protocols.
It was reported that Azaitar and his team removed the wristbands that gave them the allowance to enter the COVID bubble. The bands were allegedly given to someone else who entered their rooms and left a mysterious bag.
The undefeated and exciting Ottman Azaitar has been cut from the UFC.
He gave his wristbands to someone, had that person come into the bubble to drop off a bag and resist security. We don’t know what the bag is.
Such a stupid thing he did #ufc
— Weasle (@ThaWeasle) January 22, 2021
What should be noted is that this was during a very hostile time in the world. COVID impact was still fresh. COVID protocols needed to be followed. UFC 257 was the first time a UFC event took place after UFC 248 on March 7, 2020. Breaking COVID bubble protocols had grave consequences. Azaitar was released from the UFC at the time.
Ottman Azaitar was tested 26 times for doping after his release from UFC
According to sources, Azaitar was tested 26 times following his release. It was believed that he was involved in doping after his bag controversy.
Azaitarr said in an interview, “USADA was listening to this whole trash, and then, ‘Oh, OK, this guy had something in this bag.’ I don’t know what they expect me to have in this bag.
I was worried that they think there was something dangerous, but they were thinking there were some forbidden substances and that’s why I was tested approximately 27 times last year. Very weird.”
However, Azaitar was reinstated into the UFC a month after his release. He was given a second chance by the organization.
Ottman Azaitar’s manager revealed what was in the mysterious bag
Azaitar’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, spoke to Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports. Ali was asked to reveal the contents of the mysterious bag. His answer, with a straight face, was potatoes.
We finally found out what was in Ottman Azaitar’s bag.
According to Ali, it was…..potatoes.
So a guy went all Mission Impossible climbing balconies to deliver potatoes? Either this guy is the most committed food delivery man on the planet or there’s more to this story #ufc
— Weasle (@ThaWeasle) March 4, 2021
Yes, Ali meant to say that Azaitar was released from the UFC after trying to smuggle potatoes inside the COVID bubble.
“Potatoes,” Ali said. “Potatoes. It was potatoes in the bag.”
The same question was asked to Azaitar by Belal Muhammad as well. Muhammad mocked Azatair on video asking him, “What’s in the bag?”
Belal asking Ottman Azaitar “whats in the bag”
😂😂pic.twitter.com/owTWfwb7Si— 🌷David☘ (@DManyun_) March 5, 2021
Azaitar answered, “What are you talking about?”
Azaitar completely disregarded the whole controversy. He has yet not completely opened up about the situation and answered about the mystery bag.
Azaitar made his UFC comeback in November 2022
Azaitar, who was set to face Frevola at UFC 257, finally got into the Octagon with the American fighter at UFC 281. He had an unbeaten professional MMA record of 13-0 before meeting Frevola in November 2022. However, Frevola defeated Azaitar in the first round via a KO (punch).
Matt Frevola deserves more credit for completely neutralizing Ottman Azaitar. In 2:30 Frevola absorbed a single clean left hook. Set up his angles, never let Azaitar set his feet, corralled him with kicks, & audited him with a shocking quickness 🗽#MMATwitter #UFC #UFCVegas77 pic.twitter.com/M7qyKDt8EC
— Liam Picks Fights (@LiamPicksFights) July 12, 2023
Azaitar made his UFC debut at UFC 242 on September 7, 2019. He fought Teemu Packalen and won the bout via a KO (punch). The German-Moroccan fighter, also called the ‘Bulldozer’, will face Francisco Prado on July 15, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 224.