UFC Baku is underway in Baku, Azerbaijan, with Tahir Abdullayev taking on Jefferson Nascimento in the opening bout. The event is streaming live on Paramount+.
UFC Baku kicked off on June 27, 2026, in Baku, Azerbaijan, with Tahir Abdullayev stepping into the cage against Jefferson Nascimento in the event's opening bout, streaming live on Paramount+.
Abdullayev, nicknamed "Tank," enters the fight on home soil and brings a polished 20-3-0 record into the octagon. The 29-year-old Azerbaijani trains out of Phuket Top Team and stands five-foot-eight with a 73-inch reach. Fighting in front of a hometown crowd adds an extra layer of significance to his performance here.
Nascimento, known as "Toddynho," is a 27-year-old Brazilian prospect out of Renovacao Fight Team who has been nearly flawless throughout his career, carrying a 13-1-0 record into this contest. He shares the same height as Abdullayev at five-foot-eight, though his reach measures slightly shorter at 70 inches, giving Abdullayev a three-inch advantage in that department.
Why it matters
- Abdullayev competes on home turf at a UFC event held in Azerbaijan, raising the stakes for the local fan base
- Both fighters bring winning records and represent strong regional talent pipelines for the UFC
- The three-inch reach disadvantage for Nascimento could factor into the range battle between two orthodox fighters of identical height
- A strong performance from either man could push them deeper into divisional contention
