UFC Baku: Fiziev vs Torres — Complete Guide

UFC Baku is the first UFC event ever held in Azerbaijan, a 12-fight UFC Fight Night card on Saturday, June 27, 2026 at the Baku Crystal Hall. Headlining is a five-round lightweight bout between Azerbaijani-born contender Rafael Fiziev and Mexican knockout artist Manuel Torres, a stylistic puzzle that pits Fiziev's kickboxing patience against the heaviest single-shot power in the division's top 20. Prelims start at 12:00 PM ET and the main card begins at 3:00 PM ET, with the entire night streaming on ESPN+ in the United States. This guide covers every fight, every prediction, every betting line, every start time, and every venue detail you need before the cage door closes in Baku. Round-by-round live stats for UFC Baku Fiziev vs Torres are mirrored off-site and update as scorecards come in.

What is UFC Baku

UFC Baku, formally branded UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Torres, is the promotion's debut event in Azerbaijan. The card slots into the Fight Night calendar between summer pay-per-views and runs on a Saturday afternoon US schedule to deliver a prime-time main event in Baku. The 12-bout lineup leans heavily on fighters from the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, and Eastern Europe — a regional emphasis the UFC has used at every European Fight Night since the company's 2014 Stockholm event.

The event matters for three reasons. First, the main event slots into a lightweight title picture that needs new contenders behind Islam Makhachev. Second, Fiziev is a top-15 lightweight fighting on home soil for the first time in his professional career. Third, the card carries three Azerbaijani fighters and a heavy Russian-Dagestani presence, signalling the UFC's continued expansion into the post-Soviet MMA market.

UFC Baku date and start time

UFC Baku takes place on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Preliminary fights begin at 12:00 PM ET, the main card opens at 3:00 PM ET, and Fiziev vs Torres is expected to walk to the cage at 5:30 PM ET (approx.). The unusual afternoon US start time reflects the eight-hour gap between New York and Baku — fighters walk in Azerbaijan during prime evening hours.

Baku Crystal Hall and the host city

The Baku Crystal Hall is a 25,000-seat indoor arena on the Caspian Sea waterfront, originally built for the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. It has since hosted European Games boxing finals and dozens of international concerts. The UFC will reconfigure the venue to a roughly 12,000-seat fight night setup, with the cage centered under the arena's signature LED facade. Baku's June weather averages 27°C and the arena sits a short walk from the Old City, giving travelling fans a compact event footprint.

UFC Baku fight card overview

The full UFC Baku fight card includes seven main card bouts and five prelims. The middleweight division is the dominant weight class on the card with four fights, reflecting the European roster's depth at 185 pounds. The main event is the only five-round bout.

UFC Baku main event: Fiziev vs Torres

The Fiziev vs Torres main event is the centerpiece of UFC Baku. Fiziev returns to the lightweight top 15 with a points-per-minute differential that puts him in the same striking tier as Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. Torres has finished four of his five UFC opponents inside the distance and brings the heaviest single-shot power Fiziev has faced since the Gaethje fight. Below, the head-to-head split bars summarize the core striking output.

UFC Baku co-feature fights to watch

Beneath the main event, three fights carry top-15 implications. Sharaputdin Magomedov vs Michel Pereira Lima matches a 16-1 Dagestani prospect against one of the most unpredictable strikers on the roster. Brunno Ferreira vs Ikram Aliskerov is a middleweight power exchange with sambo grappling tucked underneath. Marvin Vettori vs Ismail Naurdiev gives the former title challenger a chance to climb back toward the top 10 against a long Moroccan striker returning from layoff.

UFC Baku predictions summary

Our full UFC Baku predictions page breaks down every fight with method and confidence ratings. The shorthand:

• Rafael Fiziev vs Manuel Torres: Rafael Fiziev by decision (confidence 3/5)
• Michel Pereira Lima vs Sharaputdin Magomedov: Sharaputdin Magomedov by decision (confidence 4/5)
• Brunno Ferreira vs Ikram Aliskerov: Ikram Aliskerov by tko (confidence 4/5)
• Asu Almabaev vs Charles Johnson: Asu Almabaev by decision (confidence 4/5)
• Abdulrakhman Yakhyaev vs Julius Walker: Abdulrakhman Yakhyaev by tko (confidence 3/5)

UFC Baku odds summary

Opening lines at major US sportsbooks have settled with Fiziev a modest favorite at home. See the full UFC Baku odds and betting guide for moneylines on all 12 fights, method props, and parlay recommendations. Indicative main card lines below.

How to watch UFC Baku

UFC Baku streams on ESPN+ in the United States. Full prelims and main card are included in the standard ESPN+ subscription — there is no PPV surcharge. UK viewers watch on TNT Sports. The full UFC Baku how to watch guide covers every regional broadcaster and replay window.