DWCS contract winner removed from UFC Kansas City after arrest on sexual misconduct against a minor charges

UFC Kansas City saw a shocking shakeup.

According to records obtained by MMA Fighting, Ahmad Hassanzada was arrested on Saturday in Sacramento, Calif., for alleged sexual misconduct against a minor. Hassanzada is being charged with a pair of felonies, including lewd or lascivious act with a child under the age of 14.

Ag. Fight was first to report the news.

Hassanzada is being held at Sacramento County Jail on $400,000 bail, and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday morning, per records.

The 28-year-old Hassanzada was scheduled to face Evan Elder at Saturday’s Fight Night event before the arrest. Elder now meets UFC newcomer Gauge Young, the promotion announced on Saturday.

Hassanzada earned a UFC contract after earning a third-round submission victory against Dylan Mantello on Dana White’s Contender Series this past September. The Afghanistan-born lightweight competed on DWCS two years prior, where he was stopped by Nazim Sadykhov in August 2022, but bounced back to go 3-1 in his next four bouts.

Following news of his arrest, Hassanzada was released from his contract with the UFC, per sources confirmed to MMA Fighting. MMA Mania first reported his release.