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Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev met with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White on Friday ahead of the country's inaugural UFC event, scheduled to begin Saturday in the capital.
The meeting highlighted Azerbaijan's entry into hosting major international mixed martial arts competitions, marking a significant milestone for the nation's sports landscape.
During their discussion, White expressed appreciation for the preparations surrounding the tournament and acknowledged Aliyev's role in facilitating the UFC's debut in Azerbaijan.
"The organization of the UFC tournament for the first time in our country is significant. We want it to be sustainable," Aliyev said, according to the state news agency AZERTAC.
The president emphasized the importance of establishing a lasting relationship with the UFC organization, suggesting Azerbaijan's ambitions extend beyond a single event to developing a regular presence in the international fighting sports calendar.
The leaders also discussed Azerbaijan's expanding focus on athletic development, including recent accomplishments by domestic athletes and government programs designed to increase youth engagement in sports activities.
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