Fizievvs Torres
The Octagon lands in Azerbaijan for the first time, and Baku's own Rafael Fiziev walks out for the biggest homecoming of his career against Mexican knockout artist Manuel Torres. Twelve fights, three Azerbaijani prospects, a stacked middleweight slate, and an afternoon US window built for chaos.
A first-of-its-kind night in the Land of Fire
UFC Baku — officially UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Torres — is the promotion's debut event in Azerbaijan and one of the most regionally significant cards of the year. The booking pairs a hometown headliner with one of the most explosive 155-pound finishers on the planet, then surrounds the main event with a middleweight gauntlet and a homegrown prospect run on the prelims.
The card runs from 12:00 PM ET, with the main slate opening at 3:00 PM ET and the main event walkouts expected around 5:30 PM ET. That's an unusually early US window — Baku evening, US afternoon — and it sets the stage for one of the loudest pro-fighter crowds of 2026.
Fiziev's homecoming, and a country's first UFC night
Rafael Fiziev has fought all over the world, but he has never walked out in front of an Azerbaijani crowd inside the UFC Octagon. After back-to-back ACL setbacks, the kickboxing wizard returns with the most personal main event of his career — and a top-15 lightweight contender on the other side hunting his scalp.
Beneath the headliner, three Azerbaijani names — Fiziev, Nazim Sadykhov, and debutant Farman Hasanov — anchor the local angle, and a stacked 185-pound slate gives the rest of the card real division-wide stakes. Read the full Fiziev vs Torres breakdown.
The 12-fight card
Full fight card →Picks for all 12 fights
Method calls, round selections, confidence ratings, and the reasoning behind every play — from Fiziev's calf-kick math to the deepest prelim sleeper.
See predictions →- Fiziev vs TorresFiziev · Decision
- Lima vs MagomedovMagomedov · Decision
- Ferreira vs AliskerovAliskerov · TKO
- Almabaev vs JohnsonAlmabaev · Decision
Afternoon US slot, Baku primetime
ESPN+ carries the full card in the United States; TNT Sports and DAZN handle most international markets. Because the show runs from Baku, prelims start at 12:00 PM ET and the main event walks out around 5:30 PM ET. Full time zone table inside.
How to watch UFC Baku →Quick FAQ
When is UFC Baku?
UFC Baku takes place on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Prelims start at 12:00 PM ET and the main card opens at 3:00 PM ET.
Where is UFC Baku held?
The event is hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan — the UFC's first card in the country.
Who is fighting in the main event?
Lightweight contender Rafael Fiziev (Azerbaijan) faces Manuel Torres (Mexico) in a five-round main event scheduled for roughly 5:30 PM ET.
How many fights are on the card?
Twelve: a 7-fight main card and 5-fight preliminary card. The Kuniev vs Fortune bout was cancelled.
Where can I watch UFC Baku?
ESPN+ in the United States, with TNT Sports, DAZN and regional partners carrying the broadcast internationally.