The UFC has officially confirmed the main and co-main events for UFC Baku on June 27. Rafael Fiziev (7-5 UFC) will face Manuel Torres (5-1 UFC) in the main event, a lightweight clash between two dynamic strikers. The co-main event will feature Shara Bullet against Michel Pereira in what promises to be an exciting welterweight matchup. Both bouts were confirmed by the promotion, finalizing the top of the card for the Azerbaijan event. The announcement solidifies a strong international card headlined by fan-favorite action fighters.
The UFC has officially confirmed the main and co-main events for UFC Baku, scheduled for June 27 in Azerbaijan, locking in a pair of striking-heavy matchups at the top of the card.
Rafael Fiziev will headline the event against Manuel Torres in a lightweight contest. Fiziev, nicknamed "Ataman," is a 33-year-old Kazakhstani fighter out of Tiger Muay Thai who holds a 14-5 overall record and sits at number seven in the lightweight division. Fighting out of a switch stance, he lands 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and has never recorded a submission attempt in his UFC run. Torres, nicknamed "El Loco," brings an aggressive counter to that equation. The 31-year-old Mexican, training out of Entram Gym, carries a 17-4 record and an eye-catching 7.29 significant strikes landed per minute at 59 percent accuracy — among the highest output figures in the division. He also adds a takedown threat, averaging 1.72 per 15 minutes.
The co-main event pairs Michel Pereira against Shara "Bullet" in a welterweight contest. Pereira, the 32-year-old Brazilian known as "Demolidor," trains out of Overcome Academy and holds a 32-15 record with a current ranking of 15th at middleweight. Standing six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach, he lands 4.46 significant strikes per minute and contributes takedowns at 1.21 per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Fiziev versus Torres is a lightweight striker's showcase, with Torres carrying one of the highest output rates in the promotion
- A Fiziev win could push him back toward title contention from the number seven ranking
- Pereira's acrobatic, unorthodox style against a similarly explosive opponent raises the entertainment ceiling for the co-main slot
- The Baku card signals the UFC's continued expansion into Central Asia and the Caucasus region
