The UFC created a bubble on Fight Island with all staff, fighters, and support personnel essentially quarantined together, after testing negative for COVID-19. Unfortunately, shortly before UFC 257: McGregor v Poirier 2, undefeated rising star Ottman “The Bulldozer” Azaitar violated COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Azaitar and his team attempted to sneak unapproved guests into the designated safety zone by cutting and passing off their security wristbands. The unapproved guest was caught with a duffel bag while trying to scale the outside of the hotel.

Azaitar was escorted from the premises, and the fight vs. Matt Frevola was canceled. UFC president Dana White was livid, and it was widely believed Azaitar would be released, but UFC president Dana White later relented. It doubtless didn’t hurt that “The Bulldozer” has friends in high places.

Mysteries about on this earth. Why do we animals all sleep? Who was Jack the Ripper? And the latest – what was in duffel bag??!? The final one has been solved, apparently; the information came from Azaitar’s manager, Dominance MMA founder Ali Abdelaziz, in an interview with Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole.

Potatoes, explained Abdelaziz with an actual straight face. Potatoes. It was potatoes in the bag.

The super manager also said Azaitar was never released.

He didn’t lose the job, Abdelaziz said. At the end of the day, it was almost like an investigation. Dana looked over it. He’s a great kid. Everybody loves him. All the UFC staff loves him. Some people got involved. Dana was involved. Listen, when you have Dana White himself handling certain situations, it’s a serious situation. At the end of the day, if they find out whatever they think he did or didn’t do, he’s a good enough person to get a second shot. He got a second shot at it, and he’s looking to get a fight right now.

He’s a UFC fighter. He was never cut officially from the UFC. Let’s remember when you have media start asking about stuff, Dana wears his heart on his sleeve. Nobody can violate the bubble. I don’t think everything that happened was intentional. At the end of the day, it’s over. I’m not saying who’s wrong or who’s right. Dana thankfully brought him back, and everything is good.

Questions yet linger of course – Russet, Fingerling, PotatoHead?

h/t Simon Samano for MMA Junkie