Nazim Sadykhov | The Hard Work Starts Now

Not many fighters get the chance to compete on the biggest stage in the sport in their hometown, and the opportunity is even more scarce for those born outside of major cities.

Most adopt an “as close as I’ll come” approach, turning bouts in their home state or country into marquee fights that carry greater meaning and significance, like the Canadian contingent making the walk to the Octagon in the Great Fight North, athletes from the United Kingdom competing in London, and the Australian/New Zealander and Asian competitors on the roster getting to throw down in Australia or China, respectively.

Saturday's Full Fight Card Preview

Until this year, the idea of fighting in his hometown of Baku,…