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Controversial mixed martial arts (MMA) manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has been banned from Professional Fighters League (PFL), beginning with Thursday night’s playoffs, after getting into a physical altercation Abe Kawa, who similarly managers a roster of high-profile fighters, including former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion, Anthony Pettis.
“Showtime” was also mixed up in last week’s kerfuffle.
“At league direction, Ali Abdelaziz will not be attending upcoming postseason events,” a PFL representative told ESPN. “Given the fact this is a legal matter, the league has no further comment at this time.”
The “league” didn’t seem to have any issue with Abdelaziz brawling with PFL fans, alongside current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, at the promotion’s June 2018 event in New York, but I guess now that police are involved it’s time to get serious.
”I spoke to PFL executives earlier this week and I don’t want this story to be about me,” Abdelaziz told ESPN. “The focus should be on my athletes in the PFL. I have 10 athletes fighting on Thursday and we made sure everybody made weight and has everything they need. I continue to support my athletes.”
This sort of behavior is not out of character for Abdelaziz, who was also a part of the Las Vegas buffet brawl involving Colby Covington. In addition, UFC President Dana White forced the one-time World Series of Fighting (WSOF) Executive Vice President to leave the Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov press conference after fanning the already out-of-control flames.
Abdelaziz must be one hell of a manager to secure (and retain) so many high-profile athletes, including former champion Frankie Edgar, unless by coincidence they all just happen to be a bunch of dummies who don’t know any better.