Rafael Fiziev will face Manuel Torres in the main event of UFC Baku on June 27. The lightweight bout will headline the card, with Shara Bullet versus Michel Pereira serving as the co-main event. Fiziev enters with a 7-5 UFC record, while Torres holds a 5-1 promotional mark. This represents a significant matchup for both fighters in the lightweight division. The event will take place in Baku, marking another international destination for the UFC.
Rafael Fiziev will return to the lightweight division as the headliner of UFC Baku, squaring off against Manuel Torres on June 27 in what promises to be a high-octane main event in Azerbaijan.
Fiziev, known by the nickname "Ataman," is a 33-year-old Kazakhstani fighter training out of Tiger Muay Thai. Sitting at number seven in the lightweight rankings with a 14-5 overall record and a 7-5 mark inside the UFC, the switch-stance striker has built his reputation on volume and precision, averaging 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. He has never recorded a submission attempt in the promotion, underscoring his commitment to a striking-based game.
Torres, nicknamed "El Loco," brings an even more aggressive offensive output to the matchup. The 31-year-old Mexican out of Entram Gym carries a 17-4 overall record and has gone 5-1 under the UFC banner. Fighting out of a switch stance at five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach, Torres leads the lightweight division in striking volume, landing an eye-catching 7.29 significant strikes per minute at 59 percent accuracy. He also adds a modest ground dimension, averaging 1.72 takedowns per 15 minutes.
The co-main event will feature Shara Bullet against Michel Pereira. The Brazilian Pereira, "Demolidor," competes at middleweight, where he is ranked 15th. The 32-year-old stands six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach and holds a 32-15 overall record, averaging 4.46 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Fiziev, ranked seventh at lightweight, needs a statement win to push toward title contention
- Torres's unbeaten UFC run and elite strike output make him a legitimate threat to shake up the division
- The switch-stance styles of both main-event fighters set the stage for a technically complex and explosive exchange
- UFC Baku continues the promotion's push into international markets, giving the card added promotional significance
