Rafael Fiziev will face Manuel Torres in the main event of UFC Baku on June 27. The lightweight bout has been officially confirmed as the headliner for the Azerbaijan card. The co-main event will feature a welterweight matchup between Shara Magomedov and Michel Pereira. This marks an important opportunity for both Fiziev and Torres to climb the lightweight rankings with a victory in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
UFC officials have confirmed that Rafael Fiziev and Manuel Torres will meet in the main event of UFC Baku on June 27, with the lightweight showdown serving as the headliner for the promotion's card in Azerbaijan.
Torres, known as "El Loco," carries a 17-4 record into the fight. The 31-year-old Mexican fighter out of Entram Gym is a switch-stance striker who ranks among the most prolific volume attackers in the lightweight division, landing an impressive 7.29 significant strikes per minute at 59 percent accuracy. He also adds a wrestling dimension, averaging 1.72 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 0.9 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
The co-main event brings together two of the welterweight division's most explosive personalities. Shara "Bullet" Magomedov of Russia, fighting out of Gorets Fight Club, holds a 17-1 record at 32 years old. The six-foot-two orthodox striker is one of the most accurate fighters in the division, connecting on 62 percent of his significant strikes while averaging 5.93 per minute — a combination that makes him a serious finishing threat. He opposes Michel "Demolidor" Pereira, the 32-year-old Brazilian veteran with a 32-15 record who currently sits ranked 15th in the middleweight division. Fighting out of Overcome Academy, Pereira lands 4.46 significant strikes per minute and contributes 1.21 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A win in the main event moves either Fiziev or Torres closer to the top of a competitive lightweight division.
- Magomedov's elite striking accuracy against Pereira's active, unpredictable style creates one of the more compelling style clashes on the card.
- UFC Baku represents the promotion's continued push into new markets, giving regional fans a high-stakes card with genuine rankings consequences at the top of the bill.
