The UFC has officially announced the main and co-main events for UFC Baku on June 27. Rafael Fiziev will face Manuel Torres in the headliner, while Shara Bullet will take on Michel Pereira in the co-main event. The post provides these matchups as confirmed information for the upcoming card in Azerbaijan. These two high-profile bouts are expected to anchor what could be a significant international event for the promotion. Additional fight announcements for the card are anticipated in the coming weeks.
The UFC has officially confirmed the main and co-main events for UFC Baku, set to take place on June 27 in Azerbaijan. Rafael Fiziev will square off against Manuel Torres in the headliner, while Shara Bullet meets Michel Pereira in the co-main event.
Fiziev, known as "Ataman," carries a 14-5 record and sits at number seven in the lightweight division. The 33-year-old Kazakhstani trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and fights out of a switch stance, landing 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. Fighting in front of a home-region crowd in Baku adds a notable dimension to his appearance at the top of the card.
Torres, nicknamed "El Loco," brings a 17-4 record and one of the most eye-catching output numbers in the division. The 31-year-old Mexican southpaw-switch striker out of Entram Gym lands an impressive 7.29 significant strikes per minute at 59 percent accuracy, while also averaging 1.72 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a multidimensional threat.
In the co-main event, Michel Pereira — "Demolidor" — enters at 32-15 and is ranked 15th in the middleweight division. The 32-year-old Brazilian out of Overcome Academy stands six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach and averages 4.46 significant strikes per minute. He faces Shara Bullet in what figures to be a dynamic striking contest.
Why it matters
- Fiziev is a top-ten lightweight fighting in the region he calls home, giving the card a local-hero storyline with serious divisional weight behind it.
- Torres's elite striking volume makes him one of the most dangerous opponents in the lightweight ranks and sets up a high-paced main event.
- Pereira is on the fringe of the top 15 at middleweight, and a strong performance against Bullet could push him deeper into contention.
- The card represents a continued UFC push into Central Asia and Eastern Europe, with two marquee bouts anchoring the event.
