Amir Albazi

Amir Albazi is an Iraqi-born grappler who fled Baghdad as a child, spent his teenage years in Sweden, and discovered MMA after watching UFC on television. He committed entirely to the sport from age 14, accumulating a wealth of jiu-jitsu accolades (six-time Swedish champion, multiple European and Asian titles) before making his UFC debut on short notice in July 2020. His early run in the promotion was explosive: five straight wins highlighted by first-round submissions and dominant grappling displays that had him pegged as a future title contender. A purple belt in jiu-jitsu with nine career submission wins, Albazi is lethal on the mat, particularly adept at hunting the back and finishing via rear-naked choke or triangle choke.

At 17-3, Albazi has slowed in recent years, losing back-to-back fights to former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno (unanimous decision, November 2024) and Kyoji Horiguchi (unanimous decision, February 2026). The Moreno fight in particular stalled his trajectory, though he was competitive throughout and survived a near-knockout in the fifth round. A controversial split-decision win over Kai Kara-France in 2023 (19 of 21 media outlets favored Kara-France) also clouded his record, adding questions about his consistency against elite opposition.

Currently ranked #7 in the flyweight division, Albazi fights with quiet confidence and technical precision. He excels from the standing position but is most devastating once he takes control on the mat, where his submission rate and first-round finish total (9) mark him as one of the division's most dangerous finishers. His story resonates with fans: a refugee who built a career through discipline and martial arts, he has expressed a desire to become the first Arab UFC champion and to eventually develop the sport in Iraq. Despite recent losses, he remains a skilled and motivated contender in a stacked flyweight landscape.