The UFC has announced that Rafael Fiziev will face Manuel Torres in the main event of UFC Baku on June 27. Fiziev enters the bout with a 7-5 UFC record, while Torres holds a 5-1 mark inside the octagon. The co-main event will feature Shara Magomedov against Michel Pereira. This marks a significant booking for the lightweight division as both fighters look to climb the rankings. Details about the full card have not been disclosed.
The UFC has officially announced Rafael Fiziev versus Manuel Torres as the main event of UFC Baku, set to take place on June 27. The lightweight matchup pairs two aggressive strikers with something to prove in the rankings race.
Fiziev, a Kyrgyzstan-born kickboxer, carries a 7-5 record inside the octagon and brings recognized power and precision to the lightweight division. Torres, nicknamed "El Loco," enters with a 5-1 UFC mark and an overall professional record of 17-4. The 31-year-old Mexican fighter trains out of Entram Gym and fights out of a switch stance at five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach. His output is among the most punishing in the division, averaging 7.29 significant strikes landed per minute, and he also contributes on the mat, averaging 1.72 takedowns per 15 minutes.
The co-main event delivers its own compelling matchup, placing Shara Magomedov against Michel Pereira. Magomedov, known as "Bullet," holds a 17-1 professional record and represents Russia's Gorets Fight Club. The 32-year-old orthodox striker 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 sharper efficiency rates in the sport. Pereira, the Brazilian known as "Demolidor," is ranked 15th in the middleweight division and carries a 32-15 record. The 32-year-old out of Overcome Academy lands 4.46 significant strikes per minute and chips in with 1.21 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Torres's elite striking volume makes the Fiziev main event a potential fight-of-the-night candidate, with both men capable of finishing bouts on the feet.
- A win for either lightweight moves them closer to the upper tier of a competitive 155-pound division.
- Magomedov's near-perfect record and elite accuracy place him in position to make a serious ranking statement against the experienced and versatile Pereira.
