CLIMBING TO THE CHALLENGE - Hector Saenz Faces Off For Lightweight Title

HOUSTON - We all want to be better than we are. Some might want to learn new skills, and others might want to improve a physical benchmark. The best of the best in any field are never satisfied with the peaks they achieve; there’s always another summit to be climbed. And for premier combat athletes, that next summit is always their next opponent. In his climb toward greater challenges, Hector Saenz has found singular focus in his training.

Hector Saenz is the #5 Southwest Lightweight fighter, with an impressive professional career record of 9-2. He will soon have to finish his current climb at Fury Challenger Series 14 in the Interim FFC Lightweight Title, standing off against opponent Iler Bakhtiyar Uulu of Kyrgyzstan. The importance of this fight for Saenz’s career cannot be understated, but he has held a firm focus on overcoming his barriers.

“Fighting is my number one priority right now,” said Saenz, in an interview with Clear Life Media. “I train in the morning, I train in the evening. In between the days, I’m trying to [improve] my strength and conditioning.”

For his part, Bakhtiyar is no slouch. Bakhtiyar has a similar career record of 10-2, and has achieved the #16 rank for North American Featherweights. The two were supposed to have fought in May for Fury Fighting Championship 104, but Saenz bowed out due to inadequate preparation, on account of some unfortunate circumstances.

“I had a series of injuries that prevented me from doing the training camp that I wanted,” said Saenz. “I wasn’t going to go into that fight prepared. And I want to be at my best, and I’d want the same from my opponent - to come with his best.”

Saenz’s dedication to bringing his best shows in his fights. Of his last five bouts, three of his wins have been decided unanimously, and one by knockout in Round 2. Bakhtiyar demonstrated a similar level of competence in his five most recent bouts, and Saenz expects their fight to be a demonstration of both fighters’ broad skillsets.

“I know he’s a pretty well-rounded fighter, I know it’s going to be a gun fight,” said Saenz. “But, I’m confident in my striking, my grappling. Wherever the fight goes, I’ll be ready to meet him.”

One unique advantage that Saenz has is his proximity to other experienced fighters. In his training efforts at 4oz. Fight Club, training alongside the UFC’s own Joshua Van and Michael Aswell has allowed Saenz to peer over the crags of his climb, and see his next horizons.

“It’s great to be able to work with them and see them shine under the light,” said Sanez. “It’s very inspiring because it pushes me to keep working, because I can be right there with them if I continue to do the things I’m doing.”

Before those new horizons, Saenz still has to overcome the mountain that is Iler Bakhtiyar Uulu. All it will take is one more push over the last cliff in the title bout.

Fury Challenger Series 14 will take place on Sunday, July 27th, 2025, and can be viewed on UFC Fight Pass, or in-person at Imagen Venues in Houston, Texas. Get your tickets at https://www.furyfc.tv/tickets/