UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Torres Preview & Prediction

UFC Fight Night 280

In this light, the UFC will be back in Azerbaijan with another incredible matchup in the lightweight division. Rafael Fiziev and Manuel Torres meet in the main event of UFC Fight Night on June 27, 2026. This five-round bout tops the card and brings into the spotlight two fighters with incredible striking abilities. They both want to impress in the very demanding lightweight division. Given that Fiziev is fighting in his native country, and that Torres comes in with good momentum. In this, either one should expect a great battle from the start.

This will be the second UFC appearance in Baku, as the promotion continues its expansion in Azerbaijan. The main event of the card includes the much-awaited bout in the lightweight division fight, Fiziev vs. Torres.

Fiziev vs. Torres: Fight Background

The upcoming UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Torres will be scheduled on 27 June 2026. The fight will take place at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan. It is the second UFC show hosted in the city. This fight night was scheduled as part of a multiyear collaboration agreement signed between the UFC and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. This ensures one UFC event in Baku each year until 2028. At first, it was supposed to feature a middleweight main event match between Michał Oleksiejczuk and Abusupiyan Magomedov. However, after several lineup changes, a lightweight contest between Rafael Fiziev and Manuel Torres became the main event. There have been some fighters who withdrew from the competition. For example, Marvin Vettori, because of his broken rib, and Andreas Gustafsson, due to medical reasons.

Fiziev vs. Torres: Event details

Detail

Information

Event Name

UFC Fight Night 280

Main Event

Rafael Fiziev vs Manuel Torres

Event Date

June 27, 2026 (Saturday)

Time

12:00 PM ET | 09:00 AM PT | 09:30 PM IST

Venue

National Gymnastics Arena

City

Baku, Azerbaijan.

Broadcast

Paramount+

Fiziev vs. Torres: Full Fight Card

Weight Class

Fighter 1

Fighter 2

Event Type

Lightweight

Rafael Fiziev

Manuel Torres

Main Event

Middleweight

Sharabutdin Magomedov

Michel Pereira

Main Card

Lightweight

Nazim Sadykhov

Matheus Camilo

Main Card

Flyweight

Asu Almabayev

Charles Johnson

Main Card

Middleweight

Ikram Aliskerov

Brunno Ferreira

Main Card

Middleweight

Abusupiyan Magomedov

Michał Oleksiejczuk

Main Card

Welterweight

Farman Hasanov

Eric Nolan

Preliminary Card

Light Heavyweight

Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev

Julius Walker

Preliminary Card

Middleweight

Nursulton Ruziboev

Andrey Pulyaev

Preliminary Card

Featherweight

Kaan Ofli

Javier Reyes

Preliminary Card

Welterweight

Daniil Donchenko

Theodor Berggren

Preliminary Card

Bantamweight

Bekzat Almakhan

Jean Matsumoto

Preliminary Card

Welterweight

Tahir Abdullayev

Jefferson Nascimento

Preliminary Card

Middleweight

Ismail Naurdiev

TBD

Announced Bout

Where can I watch the Fiziev vs. Torres fight?

The audience can visualize the stream of UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Torres live through UFC's official broadcast partners.

The fight will be streamed live in the United States via Paramount+. The prelims and the main event will both be streamed on Paramount+.

Meanwhile, Subscribers can watch the Fiziev vs. Torres championship fight and prelims through the streaming platforms listed below.

India: Airtel Xstream or ESPN.

UK and Europe: TNT Sports.

Globally: UFC Fight Pass and ESPN.

International broadcasting could vary depending on your country.

Fiziev vs. Torres: Fighters’ Bio and Stats

Rafael Fiziev

Nationality

Azerbaijani / Kyrgyzstani

Age

33

Height

5’7”

Reach

71”

Total Fights

18

Records

13-5-0 (8 KO’s)

Manuel Torres

Nationality

Mexican

Age

31

Height

5’10”

Reach

73.5”

Total Fights

20

Records

17-3-0 (9 KO’s)

Fiziev vs. Torres: Fighters’ Profile

Rafael Fiziev: Fighting to Reclaim Contender Status

Rafael Fiziev walks into the contest with an impressive professional record of 13-5. The former contender was one of the most dangerous strikers in the lightweight division. In recent times, he has been fighting against some of the best competitors in the UFC Fight Night. The fight, which included Justin Gaethje, Mateusz Gamrot, and Mauricio Ruffy, was a notable one.

Rafael Fiziev is known for being an explosive striker who possesses some of the deadliest kicks and Muay Thai skills. Being a formidable kickboxer, Fiziev can end the contest in just one blow. A victory here will be a huge boost for Rafael Fiziev's career. It will significantly improve his ranking in the UFC lightweight division.

Manuel Torres: The Rising Mexican Finisher

Manuel Torres is undoubtedly one of the promising fighters in the lightweight division. He is currently undefeated in 17 fights and has an overall pro record of 17 wins and 3 losses. Manuel Torres earned his UFC roster spot on Dana White's Contender Series. Ever since that debut, he has consistently won his fights by first-round finishes and collected performance bonuses.

Torres will come into this match full of momentum after scoring impressive knockout victories against well-known UFC fighters. His pressure-fighting style and striking game will make him a threat to any fighter in the division. A victory over the well-respected contender Fiziev will be enough to get Torres into the lightweight division rankings.

Fiziev vs. Torres: Fight Prediction

The fight is going to be an interesting battle between experience and momentum. Fiziev has had tougher competition in all of his fights at UFC, and he is a much better technical fighter. His striking, defense, and five-round experience could be huge as the fight progresses.

However, Torres will bring power and momentum into the Octagon. Recent performances of the wrestler have proven that Torres likes to make quick work of his opponents.

If Torres can turn the bout into a crazy match from the first round, he might do well in the fight. If he doesn’t manage to finish the fight quickly, his technical skills might start dictating the pace of the bout.

The match between Fiziev vs. Torres has everything that makes for a great UFC main event. First, it includes an experienced competitor looking to restore his dignity. Meanwhile, he faces a promising contender who hopes to make a name for himself among the lightweight top contenders. With strong local support backing Fiziev and Torres, carrying significant momentum, this matchup promises an exciting clash. Fans can expect a thrilling fight that could shake up the UFC lightweight rankings.

The Pick: Manuel Torres by KO/TKO.

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