UFC Removed Hassanzada After an Arrest Report
The UFC removed Ahmad Hassanzada from its April 26, 2025 Kansas City card after reports of his arrest on charges involving a minor. The allegations were not proof of guilt. Any description of the case should be attributed to law-enforcement or court records, and the athlete is presumed innocent unless convicted.
Hassanzada, a promising fighter with a 12-3 record, earned his UFC contract through a third-round submission victory over Dylan Mantello on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2024. His arrest, confirmed by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, includes charges of lewd acts with a child under 14 and lewd acts on a child victim aged 14 or 15. Bail has been set at $400,000, and his next court appearance is scheduled for April 22, 2025.
The UFC has officially released Hassanzada from his contract, stating, “Ahmad Hassanzada was removed from his bout and is no longer signed to the organization.” This decision underscores the organization’s stance on maintaining integrity and accountability within its ranks.
The withdrawal of Hassanzada has forced the UFC to make last-minute adjustments to the Kansas City card. Despite the disruption, fans can still look forward to a lineup featuring top-tier talent, including the lightweight bout between Edson Barboza and Billy Quarantillo, and the flyweight clash between Brandon Royval and Matheus Nicolau.
Sources: LowKick MMA, BVM Sports, MMA UK.
