# Hunter Azure

Hunter Dean Azure (born March 2, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competed in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

## Background

Azure was born on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Poplar, Montana, and went on to attend Poplar High School, where he was a four-time Class-B MHSA state champion as a wrestler. He then wrestled at the Montana State University–Northern, where he earned a degree in industrial technology.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Azure spent most of his early career in regional Western American promotions, most notably fighting in the Legacy Fighting Alliance. During this time he compiled an undefeated 6–0 record.

### Dana White's Contender Series

He was eventually invited to the Dana White's Contender Series 19. On July 9, 2019, he faced fellow undefeated prospect Chris Ocon, defeating him via unanimous decision and in the process gaining a UFC contract.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Azure made his promotional debut against The Ultimate Fighter 27 Featherweight Tournament winner Brad Katona on September 14, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje. He won the bout by unanimous decision.
Azure was scheduled to face Umar Nurmagomedov on April 18, 2020, at UFC 249. However, the event was then postponed.
Azure faced Brian Kelleher on May 13, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira. He lost the fight via knockout in the second round. This bout earned both participants the Fight of the Night award.
Azure faced Cole Smith on September 5, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai. He won by unanimous decision.
Azure faced Jack Shore on April 10, 2021, at UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland. He lost the bout via split decision.
On March 1, 2022, it was announced that Azure was released from UFC.

### Post UFC

Azure made his first appearance post release at iKON FC 2 on March 18, 2022, against Keith Richardson. He lost the bout via rear-naked choke in the second round.
Azure faced Ben Hollier at Fusion Fight League: Boise on October 15, 2022, winning the bout via unanimous decision.
Azure next faced Amun Cosme at United Fight League 4 for the vacant UFL Bantamweight title on April 17, 2024. He would win the fight via second round technical knockout.
Azure would make his first defence of the UFL Bantamweight title against fellow UFC veteran Vince Morales at United Fight League 5 on August 30, 2024. He would lose the fight via submission in the third round succumbing to a Peruvian necktie.

### The Ultimate Fighter 31

In mid March 2023, it was announced that Azure would be competing in the thirty-first season of The Ultimate Fighter.
In the quarterfinal Azure faced Rico DiSciullo. after a strong performance in the first round, he lost the fight in the second round by knock out.

## Personal life

Hunter and his fiancée Sage have a son, Wilder (born 2020). He is the son of Howard and Deb Azure and has three siblings: Dustyn, Autumn, and Ashley. He is a native American, being an enrolled member of the Assiniboine and Sioux people on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Brian Kelleher
* United Fight League
** UFL Bantamweight Championship (One time)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 16 matches | 12 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 1 |
| By submission | 2 | 2 |
| By decision | 6 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 12–4 | Joel Haro | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Fierce FC 36 | December 13, 2024 | 3 | 3:30 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Won the vacant Fierce FC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Loss | 11–4 | Vince Morales | Submission (Peruvian necktie) | United Fight League 5 | August 30, 2024 | 3 | 4:06 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Lost the UFL Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–3 | Amun Cosme | TKO (punch) | United Fight League 4 | April 17, 2024 | 2 | 2:42 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Won the UFL Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–3 | Ben Hollier | Decision (unanimous) | Fusion Fight League: Boise | October 15, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Boise, Idaho, United States | |
| Loss | 9–3 | Keith Richardson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Jorge Masvidal's iKon FC 2 | March 18, 2022 | 2 | 2:05 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 9–2 | Jack Shore | Decision (split) | UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland | April 10, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–1 | Cole Smith | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai | September 5, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 8–1 | Brian Kelleher | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira | May 13, 2020 | 2 | 3:40 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | Featherweight bout. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 8–0 | Brad Katona | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje | September 14, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | |
| Win | 7–0 | Chris Ocon | Decision (unanimous) | Dana White's Contender Series 19 | July 9, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | LJ Schulz | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 66 | May 10, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | West Valley City, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Jaime Hernandez | TKO (kick to the body and punches) | LFA 59 | February 1, 2019 | 1 | 2:15 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | A.J. Robb | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 53 | November 9, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
| Win | 3–0 | Cameron Thurgood | TKO (punches) | Golden Fights: Cage Wars 33 | August 4, 2018 | 1 | 1:01 | Grand Junction, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Joshua Sandvig | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fusion Fight League: Lights Out at the Dome 2 | July 14, 2018 | 2 | 4:49 | Havre, Montana, United States | Won the FFL Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 1–0 | Jon Lorens | TKO (punches) | Jeremy Horn's Elite Fight Night 29 | August 11, 2017 | 1 | 2:08 | Ogden, Utah, United States | Featherweight debut. |

## Mixed martial arts exhibition record

| Exhibition record breakdown | Exhibition record breakdown | |
| 1 match | 0 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 0–1 | Rico DiSciullo | TKO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler | Jul 18, 2023 (airdate) | 2 | 1:07 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | The Ultimate Fighter 31 Quarterfinal round. |