MMA tournament featuring Azerbaijanis kicks off in US

A multi-stage professional fighting tournament, The Gauntlet, has kicked off in New York, US, at the initiative of the American-Azerbaijani Youth and Sports Association and the CSE Combat association.

The tournament is attended by renowned MMA fighters from the US, as well as numerous sports fans. The main goal of the tournament is to test the physical and psychological capabilities of athletes and identify promising fighters.

The tournament also features MMA and kickboxing matches. Rising talents showcased their skills during the bouts.

The tournament is a single-elimination format, with eight athletes competing in each weight category. Participants engage in intense and competitive competition to advance to the next stage.

Elgun Khanoghlanli, founder of the American-Azerbaijani Youth and Sports Association and US-based Azerbaijani athlete and world and European champion, told Report that the tournament is being held for the first time and is the organization's first international sports project in the US: "Our organization was founded in 2023. It includes Azerbaijani athletes living and competing in the US. Among them are MMA fighters, including Nazim Sadykhov. We are working on projects that will allow Azerbaijani athletes to prove themselves in the US. This tournament is one such project."

The first round of the tournament featured bouts in various weight categories, with the winners earning spots in the second round.

The participants also included three athletes trained by Azerbaijani coach Teymur Hasanov. Two of them, both Ukrainians, won by knockout, celebrating their success with Azerbaijani flags.

The evening also featured MMA and kickboxing bouts. The fighters' displays of skill generated considerable interest among sports fans.