UFC Fighter Ahmad Hassanzada Arrested for Child Sexual Abuse Charges in California

Ahmad Hassanzada, a mixed martial arts fighter who recently earned a UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series, has been arrested in Sacramento, California, on multiple felony charges of sexual misconduct involving minors. The charges include lewd acts with children under 14 and with a child aged 14 or 15 where the defendant is more than 10 years older, following an investigation launched early last year. Hassanzada was scheduled to debut in the UFC on April 26, but his arrest has cast a shadow over his career and raised questions about athlete accountability and the UFC’s vetting processes. He is currently being held on $400,000 bail, with his court appearance pending, and legal experts note he could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. Sources close to the UFC report that Hassanzada’s contract has been terminated and his spot on the April 26 card will be filled by another fighter. Neither the UFC nor Hassanzada’s training team has publicly commented on the situation, while the case continues to draw significant scrutiny within the MMA community.