UFC Fight Island: Amir Albazi dedicates victory to people of Iraq

Albazi defeated Malcolm Gordon at UFC Fight Night 2 in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, his debut for the leading MMA promotion

Amir Albazi of Iraq celebrates after his submission victory over Malcolm Gordon of Canada in their bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Amir Albazi, right, of Iraq punches Malcolm Gordon of Canada in their bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Deiveson Figueiredo of Brazil celebrates after defeating Joseph Benavidez in their UFC flyweight championship bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Deiveson Figueiredo of Brazil celebrates after defeating Joseph Benavidez in their UFC flyweight championship bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Deiveson Figueiredo, right, of Brazil punches Joseph Benavidez in their UFC flyweight championship bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Jack Hermansson of Sweden celebrates after his submission victory over Kelvin Gastelum in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Jack Hermansson, left, of Sweden secures a heel hook submission against Kelvin Gastelum in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Jack Hermansson, right, of Sweden kicks Kelvin Gastelum in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Rafael Fiziev of Kazakhstan celebrates after his victory over Marc Diakiese of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Rafael Fiziev, left, of Kazakhstan punches Marc Diakiese of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Marc Diakiese, right, of the Democratic Republic of the Congo punches Rafael Fiziev of Kazakhstan in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Ariane Lipski of Brazil celebrates after her victory over Luana Carolina of Brazil in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. ( Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Ariane Lipski, right, of Brazil secures a knee bar submission against Luana Carolina of Brazil in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Askar Askarov of Russia reacts after the conclusion of his flyweight bout against Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Askar Askarov, left, of Russia punches Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Askar Askarov, right, of Russia punches Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Roman Dolidze of Georgia celebrates after his knockout victory over Khadis Ibragimov in their light heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. All Photos by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Roman Dolidze (left) of Georgia knocks out Khadis Ibragimov of Russia in their light heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Nad Narimani of England punches the body of Grant Dawson in their bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Grant Dawson (right) launches a flying knee against Nad Narimani of England in their bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Joe Duffy (left) of Ireland punches Joel Alvarez of Spain in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Joel Alvarez (left) of Spain punches Joe Duffy of Ireland in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Montel Jackson (right) kicks Brett Johns of Wales in their bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Brett Johns, left, of Wales battles Montel Jackson in their bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Arman Tsarukyan, left, of Armenia kicks Davi Ramos of Brazil in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Davi Ramos, right, of Brazil punches Arman Tsarukyan of Armenia in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Serghei Spivac, right, of Ukraine punches Carlos Felipe of Brazil in their heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Carlos Felipe, left, of Brazil punches Serghei Spivac of Ukraine in their heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Iraqi Amir Albazi dedicated his win on UFC debut to his country of birth as he set his sights on one day competing for the flyweight belt.

The Baghdad-born fighter, who was forced to flee Iraq with his family almost two decades ago, defeated Malcolm Gordon at UFC Fight Night 2 in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

The third fight of the night at Flash Forum, Albazi triumphed by a triangle choke towards the end of the opening round - the first time in the UFC this year that someone has prevailed by that method.

Albazi had agreed to the fight only on July 8 following Aleksander Doskalchuk's withdrawal. UFC Fight Night 2 was the third of four events on the inaugural Fight Island.

Speaking afterwards, a clearly delighted Albazi said: “Wow. Iraq has been struggling a lot, since I left 20 years ago until now. It just really comes from my heart. I want to give them something to smile about, something they can be happy and proud about.”

Albazi, 26, was out to make a statement on Sunday, especially with UFC president Dana White watching octagon-side. Albazi, who lives now in London having arrived in England via Iraqi Kurdistan, Syria and Sweden, duly delivered, before calling on the promotion to give him performance of the night.

That accolade, which carries with it a $50,000 (Dh183,600) bonus, eventually went to Brazilians Ariane Lipski and Deiveson Figueiredo, with the latter claiming the flyweight title in the process.

“If Dana gave me the $50Gs I’d stay on the island and fight again next week,” said Albazi, who sought out White immediately following his victory. “Yesterday at the weigh-in, he was speaking in the locker room saying we shouldn’t leave it to the judges and go make a performance of your life. And that’s exactly what I tried to do.

“I felt like I was in control standing up, took it to the ground, then submitted [Gordon] last minute. I think that was performance of the night.”

Albazi said he felt surprisingly relaxed ahead of what was the biggest fight of his career thus far.

“To be honest, crazy enough, I thought I would experience more nerves in the UFC,” he said. “But I was just calm and it felt like home. This is what I do for a living. Nothing different right there.

“I took the fight on 10 days’ notice. I know what tools I can bring to the table. I’m just here and showed my skill set.”

Asked what message he sent out with his display, Albazi said: “That I’m always ready. This was without a proper, proper training camp; then you can just imagine if you give me six-eight weeks to prepare, what I can bring.

“I think I’m a champion-level athlete. And I’m coming for the belt. I’m not here just to be any other flyweight.”