The UFC has announced that Rafael Fiziev will face Manuel Torres in the main event of UFC Baku on June 27. This bout will serve as the headliner for the promotion's event in Azerbaijan. Additionally, Shara Magomedov versus Michel Pereira has been confirmed as the co-main event. Both fights promise high-level action and will anchor the card. The announcement provides clarity on the top two bouts for the Baku event. No further details about the rest of the card were provided in this post.
The UFC has officially announced the two headline bouts for UFC Baku, scheduled for June 27 in Azerbaijan. Rafael Fiziev will meet Manuel Torres in the main event, while Shara Magomedov and Michel Pereira will clash in the co-main event.
Manuel Torres, nicknamed "El Loco," brings a 17-4-0 record into the lightweight main event. The 31-year-old Mexican fighter out of Entram Gym is one of the division's most dangerous strikers, averaging an eye-catching 7.29 significant strikes landed per minute at 59 percent accuracy. Fighting out of a switch stance at five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach, Torres also adds a takedown dimension to his game, averaging 1.72 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Shara Magomedov, the Russian knockout artist known as "Bullet," headlines the co-main event with a 17-1-0 record. The 32-year-old orthodox striker out of Gorets Fight Club stands six-foot-two with a 73-inch reach and lands 5.93 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 62 percent accuracy, one of the higher marks in the sport.
Standing across from Magomedov will be Michel Pereira, nicknamed "Demolidor." The Brazilian middleweight carries a 32-15-0 record and is ranked 15th in the division at age 32. Pereira fights out of Overcome Academy at six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach, averaging 4.46 significant strikes per minute alongside 1.21 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a well-rounded offensive profile.
Why it matters
- Torres is among the most prolific volume strikers in the lightweight division, setting up a compelling stylistic test in the main event
- Magomedov versus Pereira pits two of middleweight's most entertaining fighters against each other, with rankings implications on the line for the 15th-ranked Pereira
- UFC Baku marks the promotion's continued push into new international markets, making the card significant from a business perspective as well
