Rafael Fiziev revealed in an interview with Janer Akbaba that his next fight will take place at UFC Baku on June 27. Turkish journalist Akbaba stated he knows the opponent's identity but cannot publicly disclose it yet. However, Akbaba narrowed it down to three possibilities: Dan Hooker, Manuel Torres, or Brian Ortega. Given recent reports that Manuel Torres signed a bout agreement, the matchup appears likely to be Fiziev versus Torres, with uncertainty remaining only about whether it will be the main or co-main event.
Rafael Fiziev has confirmed he will compete at UFC Baku on June 27, revealing the news during an interview with Turkish journalist Janer Akbaba. While Akbaba stated he knows the identity of Fiziev's opponent, he declined to name the fighter publicly, though he narrowed the field to three candidates: Dan Hooker, Manuel Torres, or Brian Ortega. With recent reports indicating Torres has signed a bout agreement, a Fiziev versus Torres matchup appears to be the most likely outcome, with questions remaining only over whether it headlines or co-headlines the card.
Fiziev, known as "Ataman," enters the fight ranked seventh in the lightweight division. The 33-year-old Kazakhstani trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and carries a 14-5 record. He lands 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and fights out of a switch stance.
Torres, nicknamed "El Loco," would represent a sharply contrasting style on paper. The 31-year-old Mexican holds a 17-4 record and trains at Entram Gym. He is one of the more prolific strikers in the division, landing 7.29 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 59 percent accuracy. He also averages 1.72 takedowns per 15 minutes, adding a threat beyond his aggressive stand-up game.
Hooker, the third name floated, is a 36-year-old New Zealander ranked fifth at lightweight with a 24-14 record. He fights out of City Kickboxing and lands 4.82 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Fiziev at seventh and Hooker at fifth means either matchup carries genuine rankings weight in a competitive lightweight division
- Torres's reported bout agreement makes him the frontrunner, setting up a potential striker-versus-striker showcase
- UFC Baku gives Fiziev a homecoming-adjacent platform, with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan sharing close cultural and regional ties
- The main or co-main event question suggests the card's top billing remains unsettled
