Torres eyes Gaethje title shot with Fiziev finish at UFC Baku

Manuel Torres has made clear what he wants from his appearance at UFC Baku: a finish of Rafael Fiziev that he believes will be impossible for the promotion to ignore when it comes to determining a challenger for Justin Gaethje's lightweight title.

Torres, nicknamed "El Loco," carries a 17-4 record into the fight and has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers in the 155-pound division. The 31-year-old Mexican, who trains out of Entram Gym, lands an exceptional 7.29 significant strikes per minute at a 59 percent accuracy rate — numbers that rank him among the most efficient offensive fighters on the roster. He also adds a takedown threat, averaging 1.72 per 15 minutes, giving him a layered offensive game.

Fiziev enters the bout ranked seventh in the lightweight division with a 14-5 record. The 33-year-old Kazakh product of Tiger Muay Thai is a dangerous switch-stance striker in his own right, landing 4.71 significant strikes per minute, though his 52 percent accuracy trails his opponent's mark. A finish specialist of note, Fiziev has zero submission attempts on his record, signaling he operates almost exclusively on the feet.

The man Torres has his sights set on, Gaethje, holds the lightweight championship at 28-5 and is himself a relentless forward pressure fighter. The 37-year-old American averages 6.48 significant strikes per minute and offers almost no grappling threat, averaging just 0.33 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• A Torres finish would strengthen his case for a title shot in a division where finishing ability commands attention
• Fiziev's ranking means a decisive Torres victory carries real divisional weight at 155 pounds
• All three fighters involved favor striking, making the stylistic stakes of the Baku bout directly relevant to a potential championship contest