Farman Hasanov, who will face Erik Nolan at the UFC Fight Night in Baku on June 27, met with the media to answer questions from journalists.

Offsideplus.az presents the interview:

How are the preparations for the fight going? 

Everything is on track. We plan to spend the last three weeks preparing in Baku. In short, everything is going well.

What did you feel when you first heard that you would be competing in the UFC? 

It was an amazing feeling. I have been in the United States for a training camp since the end of March, waiting for a fight. So, this was both a surprise and something I was anticipating. I was ready for it. I feel great, and I believe everything will go well in Baku.

Who will be in your corner in Baku? 

Brothers Ibrahim and Heydar Mohammadali are my coaches. I train at the Mohammadaliyev Combat Club. They will be in my corner in Baku.

You are currently 30 years old and the youngest Azerbaijani fighter competing in the UFC. What are your future plans? 

My goal is to raise the Azerbaijani flag higher. I want to represent our country with dignity in the UFC.

Your opponent has lost four times in the UFC. Do you want to hand him his fifth defeat? 

I don’t just want to hand it to him; I will do it.

How do you rate the fact that a UFC tournament is being held in Baku? 

This is very important for the development of athletes. Specifically, hosting the UFC in Azerbaijan is a crucial step for the growth of MMA in the country. This event is planned to be held in Azerbaijan until 2028. I hope that year after year, the number of Azerbaijani athletes in the UFC will increase.

Which Azerbaijani fighters are supporting you in this process? 

I speak with Tofiq Musayev frequently. I was there for his fight back in March. We are a team. I am in constant contact with Baku. My coaches and Tofiq always give me advice.

Did you ever think you would fight in a UFC match in Baku? 

Honestly, I never thought I would fight in Baku. Our main goal was just to make it into the UFC anyway. However, after it was announced last year that the tournament would be held in Baku, the idea crossed my mind.

Which of your techniques do you rely on the most for this fight? 

I think it could be my wrestling.

What would you like to say to the fans? 

I can already feel the support of my compatriots. I mostly read the comments on social media. I am grateful to everyone. I want them to keep supporting me. The UFC will be in Baku. I want to thank the entire audience in advance.

It should be noted that the UFC Fight Night tournament, organized in Baku for the second time, will be one of the most memorable sports events of the year for local and regional MMA fans. Tickets for the "UFC FIGHT NIGHT: FIZIEV vs TORRES" event are on sale via iTicket starting Friday, May 15, at 10:00 AM.