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 Bullet and Michel Pereira. This represents a significant lightweight matchup for the UFC's return to Baku. Fiziev holds a 7-5 UFC record while Torres stands at 5-1 in the promotion. The announcement was made through multiple channels to ensure wide distribution.
Rafael Fiziev will headline the UFC's return to Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 27, taking on Manuel Torres in a lightweight main event that pits two of the division's most aggressive strikers against each other.
Fiziev, known as "Ataman," carries a 14-5 overall record and sits at number seven in the UFC lightweight rankings. The 33-year-old Kazakhstani trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and brings a switch-stance, high-output striking game to the cage, landing 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. He holds a 7-5 mark inside the promotion.
Torres, nicknamed "El Loco," represents one of the more dangerous opponents the division can offer. The 31-year-old Mexican out of Entram Gym carries a 17-4 overall record and has gone 5-1 in the UFC. Fighting out of a switch stance, Torres is a significant striking threat with a remarkable output of 7.29 significant strikes landed per minute and a 59 percent striking accuracy rate. He also averages 1.72 takedowns per 15 minutes, adding a multi-dimensional element to his game.
The co-main event features Michel Pereira, "Demolidor," squaring off against Shara Bullet. Pereira, a 32-year-old Brazilian ranked 15th in the middleweight division, carries a 32-15 record and trains out of Overcome Academy. The six-foot-one orthodox fighter lands 4.46 significant strikes per minute with 51 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Fiziev, ranked seventh at lightweight, is in prime position to push toward title contention with a strong performance
- Torres's elite striking volume makes this a genuine style clash at the top of the card
- The UFC's return to Baku gives the event added significance as the promotion continues to expand its global footprint
- The Pereira-Bullet co-main event adds further middleweight ranking implications to an already consequential night
