Dramatic rescue! UFC's Ottman Azaitar Saves MMA Manager Ali Abdelaziz from Drowning in Hawaii; video

MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz, known for representing some of the biggest names in combat sports, recently had a near-death experience during a trip to Hawaii and he credits UFC fighter Ottman Azaitar with saving his life. “Ottman is a great boy. He has a big heart. He literally saved my life,” Abdelaziz told TMZ Sports about the horrific incident.

The group, which also included Ali and Ottman, went swimming near a waterfall in Hawaii before heading to Salt Lake City for UFC 307, where Abdelaziz represents fighter Kayla Harrison.

Unfortunately, Abdelaziz, who is not a good swimmer, found himself in deeper water than expected. As he struggled to stay afloat, panic set in and his head began to sink below the surface. Thinking quickly, Azaitar swam to shore, grabbed a vine from the forest, and used it to bring Abdelaziz to safety. Despite the terrible scare, Abdelaziz recovers well and is convinced that if it were not for Ottman's quick thinking and courage, he would have drowned.

Does Ottman Azaitar have a UFC fight?

Azaitar is not scheduled for UFC 307 and his last fight was in July 2023 when he lost to Francisco Prado. He was scheduled to fight at UFC Fight Night 232 last November, but that bout was canceled for unknown reasons. The 34-year-old has a record of 13-2 with 10 knockouts and has no fights scheduled this year.

Azaitar, who is of Moroccan origins, comes from Cologne, Germany. At the age of six he trained in Jiu Jitsu and at the age of ten he began training in Muay Thai. He made his debut at UFC 242 against Teemu Packalen. In January 2021, he was suspended by the UFC for violating safety protocols.