Rafael Fiziev will face Manuel Torres in the main event of the UFC card in Baku, Azerbaijan, scheduled for June 27. The co-main event will feature a bout between Shara Magomedov and Michel Pereira. This announcement confirms the headlining matchup for the UFC's event in Baku. Fiziev and Torres will compete in what appears to be a lightweight contest. The card represents the UFC's continued expansion into international markets. No additional fight announcements for the card were included in this post.
The UFC has officially announced its main event for the Baku card on June 27, booking Rafael Fiziev against Manuel Torres to headline the promotion's debut event in Azerbaijan.
Torres, nicknamed "El Loco," carries a 17-4 record into the lightweight contest. The 31-year-old Mexican fighter out of Entram Gym is one of the more relentless volume strikers in the division, landing an eye-catching 7.29 significant strikes per minute at 59 percent accuracy. He also adds a takedown dimension to his game, averaging 1.72 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a multi-layered threat.
Fiziev's verified data was not included in the database entry for this announcement, though the matchup is confirmed as a lightweight bout.
The co-main event pairs two of the sport's most visually entertaining fighters in Shara Magomedov and Michel Pereira. Magomedov, the 32-year-old Russian known as "Bullet," holds a 17-1 record and trains out of Gorets Fight Club. His 5.93 significant strikes per minute comes with a remarkable 62 percent accuracy rate, a combination that has made him one of the more feared strikers in the middleweight division. Pereira, the Brazilian known as "Demolidor," brings a 32-15 record and currently sits ranked 15th at middleweight. The 32-year-old from Overcome Academy lands 4.46 significant strikes per minute and contributes 1.21 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a more varied offensive arsenal.
Why it matters
- Baku, Azerbaijan marks another step in the UFC's push into new international markets
- The Magomedov-Pereira co-main event places two high-octane middleweights with divisional ranking implications on a global stage
- Torres's volume striking and takedown output against Fiziev's lightweight standing sets up a high-stakes main event with potential to reshape the division's contender picture
