Event Overview
UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Torres takes place on Saturday 27 June 2026 at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan. The card is headlined by a lightweight contest between Rafael Fiziev and Manuel Torres, and marks the UFC’s second visit to Baku following its debut in the city in June 2025.
Main Event: Fiziev vs Torres
Rafael Fiziev is one of the most dangerous strikers in the UFC’s lightweight division. The Kyrgyz-born, Kazakhstan-raised fighter trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and has built a reputation for unpredictable, high-volume striking with genuine knockout power in both hands. Facing him is Manuel Torres, a hard-hitting Mexican prospect who has made a rapid impression in the lightweight division with a string of finishes that have caught the attention of the division’s ranking committees.
The all-striking dynamic of this main event suits a crowd in Baku, where both fighters carry crowd-pleasing tendencies. Both are ranked inside the top 15 at lightweight, and a decisive victory here could push either man into title contention at 155 pounds.
Notable Undercard Bouts
Shara Magomedov takes on Michel Pereira in a co-main event that brings two flamboyant, unconventional strikers into the same cage. Magomedov has been one of the most discussed newcomers in the middleweight division, while Pereira is known for his acrobatic, high-risk style and willingness to take risks that most fighters at his level avoid. Lightweight prospects Nazim Sadykhov and Matheus Camilo also feature on the card, with local fighter Sadykhov representing Azerbaijan and carrying the weight of home support inside the arena. Flyweight Asu Almabayev faces Charles Johnson in a bout with title-contender implications at 125 pounds.
Event Schedule
Because of the time difference between Baku and the United States, the main card takes place in the afternoon on the East Coast. Preliminary bouts begin at 12:00 p.m. ET, with the main card starting at 3:00 p.m. ET. Fiziev and Torres are expected to make their walks to the cage at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET.
How to Watch
In the United States, the full card streams on ESPN+ as part of the standard subscription with no additional PPV cost. In the United Kingdom, the card airs on TNT Sports. Check local listings for international broadcast arrangements by territory.
Venue: National Gymnastics Arena, Baku
The National Gymnastics Arena in central Baku is one of the most recognisable sporting venues in Azerbaijan, built primarily for elite gymnastics competitions and now serving as a home for high-profile combat sports events. The capital of Azerbaijan sits at the intersection of Europe and Central Asia, and the UFC’s return to the city reflects the promotion’s continued expansion into new markets across the region.
Context and Significance
The UFC’s return to Baku suggests the first card in 2025 generated sufficient commercial interest to justify a second date. For Fiziev, competing in a part of the world where he has cultural roots adds an additional layer to a fight that already carries clear divisional stakes. Torres, climbing rapidly through the rankings on the back of finishes, will want to make his own statement on what is a globally visible platform for a fighter building toward the top of the lightweight rankings.