A promising MMA fighter has been arrested on allegations of child sex crimes just days before his highly anticipated debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Ahmad Hassanzada, 28, surrendered to law enforcement in connection with an investigation that began in 2024.
He is charged with engaging in lewd or lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14, according to Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office records.
Additionally, he is accused of committing a lewd act upon a child between 14 and 15 years old, where the accused is at least ten years older than the alleged victim.
His arraignment hearing is scheduled for April 22.
The mixed martial artist turned himself in on Saturday after an arrest warrant was issued.
His bail has been set at $400,000.
Hassanzada, a lightweight competitor from Afghanistan, was preparing to make his first appearance in the Octagon on April 26.
He was slated to compete against Mitch Ramirez at the UFC Fight Night event in Kansas City.
Hassanzada gained prominence after winning the lightweight division in Dana White`s Contender Series, a program designed to discover and recruit new talent for the UFC.
His last fight was against Dylan Mantello on September 18 of the previous year.
He secured victory in that match within three minutes by submission.
However, UFC officials have confirmed that Hassanzada is no longer under contract with the organization following his arrest.
“Ahmad Hassanzada has been removed from his scheduled fight and is no longer associated with the organization,” a UFC representative stated to MMA Mania.
FIGHTING RECORD
Hassanzada`s professional fight record stands at 12 wins and 3 losses, as reported by ESPN.
He was on a three-fight winning streak, with his most recent loss occurring in February 2023.
He also participated in White`s Contender Series in 2022.
However, he was defeated by Nazim Sadykhov, a rival fighter also from Afghanistan.
His other MMA defeats were against Piotr Birko from Belarus in 2019 and American lightweight fighter Josh Streacker.
Weeks prior to his arrest, Hassanzada posted images from a wedding celebration on Instagram, accompanied by the caption: “Life is beautiful, don`t forget to be grateful.”
Elton Marrow 
Gideon Holt