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After an improbable UFC debut Mounir Lazzez is set to feature for a second time on Fight Island.
Mounir Lazzez (10-1) got his UFC debut after a friend pushed his highlight reel under UFC President Dana White’s nose in a Dubai restaurant. White was so impressed with the footage that Lazzez ended up getting signed for a bout on UFC Fight Island 1: Kattar vs. Ige.
On Yas Island, UAE Lazzez met Abdul Razak Alhassan, who was returning from a two year lay-off. Alhassan had been out of action because he was standing trial for rape in Texas. Alhassan was found not guilty and cleared of all charges.
Lazzez and Alhassan earned Fight of the Night bonuses for their action-packed welterweight contest. Lazzez both impressed and surprised onlookers with his ability to take the fight to ‘Judo Thunder’ and light his opponent up with a wide variety of strikes. Lazzez won the bout via unanimous decision.
And the Tunisian has now been booked for an encore performance on Fight Island. MMAJunkie reports that Lazzez will face David Zawada on October 17th at a currently unnamed event.
Zawada (17-5) has three UFC fights under his belt. The 30-year-old German lost his first two fights in the Octagon, to Danny Roberts and then Jingliang Li. His first UFC win came against Abubakar Nurmagomedov, via triangle choke, at UFC on ESPN: Magomedsharipov vs. Kattar last November.
Prior to his improbable signing by the UFC Lazzez fought on the Arabian Gulf regional scene, with appearances for UAE Warriors, Brace CF and Desert Force.
The UFC’s October 17th offering is expected to include a featherweight bout between contenders Chan Sung Jung and Brian Ortega in the headliner. Other fights scheduled for that card include Jessica Andrade vs. Katlyn Chookagian (flyweight), Renato Moicano vs. Magomed Mustafaev (lightweight) and Said Nurmagomedov vs. Mark Striegl (bantamweight).