Rafael Fiziev and Manuel Torres are set to clash in the main event of UFC Baku. The lightweight matchup is one of the most anticipated bouts on the card.
Rafael Fiziev and Manuel Torres have been booked to headline UFC Baku in a lightweight clash that figures to be one of the more explosive matchups the promotion has scheduled this year.
Fiziev, known as "Ataman," enters the fight ranked seventh in the UFC's lightweight division. The 33-year-old Kazakhstani trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and carries a 14-5 record into the bout. Fighting out of a switch stance, he lands 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, making him a consistent and technically refined striker at 135 centimeters tall with a 180-centimeter reach.
Torres, nicknamed "El Loco," brings a 17-4 record and an even more aggressive offensive output to the main event. The 31-year-old Mexican, who trains at Entram Gym, lands an eye-catching 7.29 significant strikes per minute at 59 percent accuracy — numbers that rank among the highest in the division. Standing 178 centimeters tall with a 185-centimeter reach, Torres also averages 1.72 takedowns per 15 minutes, adding a grappling dimension that gives him multiple paths to finish a fight.
Why it matters
- Fiziev's ranking means a strong performance could push him deeper into lightweight title contention
- Torres's volume and accuracy make him one of the most dangerous finishers outside the top ten
- Both fighters work out of a switch stance, setting up an unpredictable and technically complex striking exchange
- The matchup carries legitimate divisional stakes, with the winner likely earning a top-ten ranking
