Rafael Fiziev vs Manuel Torres to headline UFC Baku on June 27

Rafael Fiziev and Manuel Torres are set to collide in the main event of UFC Baku on June 27, with the card taking place in Azerbaijan's capital city marking a notable international event for the promotion.

Fiziev, fighting out of Azerbaijan, makes his return to the top of a card in front of what figures to be a partisan home crowd. His opponent, Manuel Torres, carries a 17-4-0 record into the matchup. The 31-year-old Mexican fighter, known as "El Loco," trains out of Entram Gym and brings explosive offensive output to the lightweight division, averaging an exceptional 7.29 significant strikes per minute at 59 percent accuracy. Torres, who stands five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach, also mixes in takedowns at a rate of 1.72 per 15 minutes and adds submission attempts to his arsenal.

The co-main event pairs Shara Magomedov against Michel Pereira in a bout that carries significant intrigue of its own. Magomedov, nicknamed "Bullet," holds a 17-1-0 record and fights out of Russia. The 32-year-old stands six-foot-two with a 73-inch reach and posts a striking accuracy of 62 percent while averaging 5.93 significant strikes per minute — numbers that underline his reputation as a finishing threat. Pereira, the Brazilian known as "Demolidor," brings a 32-15-0 record and is currently ranked 15th in the middleweight division. The 32-year-old fights out of Overcome Academy, stands six-foot-one, and averages 4.46 significant strikes landed per minute.

Why it matters

• The main event represents a major headlining opportunity for Torres as he looks to push into lightweight title contention
• Magomedov versus Pereira pits two high-output strikers against each other with divisional ranking implications on the line
• UFC Baku gives the promotion a high-profile international platform, with Fiziev's home crowd adding further stakes to the card