The UFC has officially announced that Rafael Fiziev (7-5 UFC) versus Manuel Torres (5-1 UFC) will headline UFC Baku on June 27. The lightweight matchup has been confirmed as the main event for the promotion's inaugural card in Azerbaijan. The co-main event will feature Shara Bullet versus Michel Pereira in a welterweight bout. Fiziev enters the fight looking to build momentum after recent setbacks, while Torres aims to continue his impressive UFC run. The card marks an important expansion for the UFC into the Azerbaijani market.
The UFC has officially confirmed that Rafael Fiziev will face Manuel Torres in the main event of UFC Baku on June 27, with the card set to mark the promotion's first-ever event in Azerbaijan.
Fiziev, known as "Ataman," is a 33-year-old lightweight from Kazakhstan who trains out of Tiger Muay Thai. He carries a professional record of 14-5 and sits at number seven in the lightweight divisional rankings. Fighting out of a switch stance, the 173 cm striker lands 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, and has never recorded a submission attempt across his UFC run.
Torres, nicknamed "El Loco," enters the contest on the strength of a 5-1 UFC record as part of his overall 17-4 career slate. The 31-year-old Mexican fighter out of Entram Gym is one of the more productive strikers in the division, landing 7.29 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 59 percent accuracy. He also adds a threat on the ground, averaging 1.72 takedowns per 15 minutes.
The co-main event will see Michel Pereira, the Brazilian known as "Demolidor," return to action against Shara Bullet in a welterweight bout. The 32-year-old Overcome Academy product holds a 32-15 record and is currently ranked 15th in the middleweight division, though the Torres vs. Fiziev matchup sits at the top of the bill.
Why it matters
- Fiziev, ranked seventh at lightweight, needs a strong performance to push back toward title contention after recent setbacks
- Torres has been one of the most impressive newcomers in the division, and a win over a ranked fighter would significantly elevate his standing
- The card represents a landmark moment as the UFC enters the Azerbaijani market for the first time, giving Fiziev a meaningful home-region platform as a Kazakh fighter
