Rafael Fiziev will face Manuel Torres in the main event of a UFC card scheduled for June 27 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The co-main event will feature Shara Magomedov vs Michel Pereira. This marks a significant lightweight matchup with Fiziev looking to rebound from recent setbacks. The event will be one of the UFC's international cards in 2026. Both the main and co-main events feature striking-heavy fighters expected to deliver action-packed performances.
The UFC has officially announced a lightweight main event for its June 27 card in Baku, Azerbaijan, booking Rafael Fiziev against Manuel Torres to headline the promotion's international stop in 2026.
Fiziev enters the bout looking to bounce back from recent setbacks in his career. The Kyrgyzstan-born striker has long been regarded as one of the most dangerous stand-up fighters in the lightweight division, and a strong performance in front of a home-region crowd in Baku would go a long way toward restoring his position in the 155-pound rankings.
Torres, nicknamed "El Loco," brings an aggressive and relentless style to the matchup. The 31-year-old Mexican fighter carries a 17-4 record and trains out of Entram Gym. He is one of the most prolific strikers on the UFC roster, landing an extraordinary 7.29 significant strikes per minute with 59 percent accuracy. Standing five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach, Torres also mixes in occasional grappling, averaging 1.72 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
The co-main event pairs Shara "Bullet" Magomedov against Michel "Demolidor" Pereira at middleweight, a matchup that figures to rival the main event in sheer entertainment value. Magomedov, a 32-year-old Russian fighter out of Gorets Fight Club, holds a 17-1 record and is among the most accurate and high-volume strikers in the division, connecting at 62 percent accuracy while landing 5.93 significant strikes per minute. The six-foot-two southpaw has yet to attempt a single takedown in his UFC career, making his intentions on the feet crystal clear.
Pereira, the 32-year-old Brazilian known as "Demolidor," holds a 32-15 record and currently sits ranked 15th in the middleweight division. Standing six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach, he lands 4.46 significant strikes per minute out of Overcome Academy and brings a well-rounded skill set with takedowns and submission attempts also in his arsenal.
Why it matters
- Fiziev vs. Torres is a high-stakes lightweight clash that could reshape the division's contender picture
- Torres's elite striking volume makes him a legitimate threat to any fighter at 155 pounds
- Magomedov vs. Pereira pits two crowd-pleasing middleweights against each other with divisional ranking implications for both
