The UFC heads to Baku, Azerbaijan this Saturday for UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Torres. It is a loaded card headlined by a lightweight clash between two of the division’s most dangerous strikers, and it kicks off at an early 12:00 PM EDT start time. Here is everything you need heading into fight night.
Full Fight Card Preview
Main Event — Lightweight: Rafael Fiziev vs. Manuel Torres
This is the fight that made the UFC come to Baku. Rafael Fiziev (#11) is a hometown hero fighting on home soil in Azerbaijan, bringing an electrifying kickboxing style that has made him one of the most feared strikers in the lightweight division. Manuel Torres (#15) out of Mexico is no slouch — he is a relentless pressure fighter who has earned his spot in the rankings through gritty performances. Fiziev has the technical striking edge and crowd advantage, but Torres has the cardio and forward pressure to make this a war. Expect fireworks early.
Co-Main Event — Middleweight: Shara Magomedov vs. Michel Pereira
This might be the most exciting fight on the card. Shara “Bullet” Magomedov (16-1) is a freak-show striker with double spinning backfist knockouts on his resume. Pereira is the charismatic Brazilian who never has a boring fight. Two entertainment-first fighters going head-to-head is the kind of co-main event that makes you set an alarm for a Saturday morning card. Magomedov comes in as a heavy favorite at -300, but Pereira at +250 is always a live underdog who thrives in chaos.
Main Card Breakdown
- Nazim Sadykhov vs. Matheus Camilo (Lightweight) — Sadykhov, dubbed “Black Wolf,” fights in front of a home crowd and enters as a -160 favorite. He is a crowd favorite in Baku and will be looking to deliver.
- Asu Almabayev vs. Charles Johnson (Flyweight) — A ranked flyweight bout with Almabayev (#9) coming in as a -400 favorite over Johnson (#14). If the odds hold, Almabayev should control this one on the mat.
- Ikram Aliskerov vs. Brunno Ferreira (Middleweight) — Aliskerov at -300 is heavy chalk, but Ferreira carries the kind of power that keeps any fight interesting.
- Abus Magomedov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (Middleweight) — An evenly-priced matchup at -190/-165 that could go either way depending on who lands first.
Prelims to Watch
The prelims start at 9:00 AM EDT and are loaded with finishers. Keep an eye on Farman Hasanov vs. Eric Nolan — a dead-even welterweight matchup (-110/-110) that has all the makings of a barn burner. Also watch Kaan Ofli vs. Javier Reyes in a featherweight bout with Reyes entering as a slight -150 favorite.
Betting Odds Analysis
The sportsbooks have spoken and Baku is a card heavy on Russian and Eastern European fighters, which means the home crowd will be loud and the pressure is on. Here is a breakdown of where the value lies.
If you want to take your betting game to the next level, check out our premium UFC picks at BetMMA.tips/DelinquentMMA — our full card selections for UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Torres are posted there ahead of every event.
Main Event: Fiziev -142 / Torres +120 — Fiziev is a reasonable favorite on home turf with elite striking. Torres at +120 is interesting value if you believe his pressure can neutralize Fiziev’s combinations. Neither number is particularly sharp, making this a close call.
Best Value Play: Manuel Torres +120 — Fiziev has shown chin issues in the past, and Torres’ relentless forward pressure could expose that. At plus money, Torres represents real value in what could go either way.
Best Parlay Piece: Shara Magomedov -300 — Heavy juice, but Magomedov is a legitimately dangerous finisher. Pereira is always dangerous, but Magomedov’s striking accuracy and finishing ability make him the safer chalk play on this card.
Stay Away: Daniil Donchenko -1200 — At -1200, the risk/reward is terrible. A single loss wipes out a dozen wins at those odds.
Sleeper Pick: Bekzat Almakhan +170 — In a bantamweight matchup against Matsumoto, Almakhan at +170 is worth a look for a small-stake flier if you have done your homework on his tape.
All odds analysis is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Please bet responsibly and check your local laws and regulations before placing any wagers.
Fighter Spotlight: Shara “Bullet” Magomedov
If you do not know Shara Magomedov yet, Baku is your introduction. The 31-year-old Dagestani middleweight (16-1, 12 KOs) is one of the most uniquely skilled strikers on the UFC roster, and his co-main event against Michel Pereira has must-see written all over it.
Magomedov’s path to the UFC reads like an action movie. Before MMA, he was an 18-2 Muay Thai competitor and Russian champion, plus a Eurasia Lethwei (bare-knuckle kickboxing) titlist. What makes his story more remarkable is that he competes with one eye — a severe injury left him blind in one eye earlier in his career, but instead of walking away, he found inspiration in former UFC champion Michael Bisping, who also competed with compromised vision, and pressed forward.
His UFC highlight reel is absurd. He knocked out Armen Petrosyan with a double spinning backfist — a technique most fighters attempt once in a career. He has earned two Fight of the Night and two Performance of the Night bonuses during his UFC run. His only loss came against Michael Page in early 2025, a result that showed he is still refining the complete package but did nothing to dull his star power.
Against Pereira, Magomedov will be the bigger, more technical striker. Pereira brings chaos and unpredictability. This is a co-main event that rewards the fans who show up early.
Final Thoughts
UFC Fight Night in Baku is an underrated gem on the 2026 calendar. The card top-to-bottom has more finishers than most pay-per-view main cards, the main event is a genuine toss-up, and the co-main is a walking highlight reel waiting to happen. Prelims kick off at 9:00 AM EDT with the main card following at noon.
Who do you have winning the main event? Drop your picks in the comments — and if you want the full premium breakdown, grab our picks at BetMMA.tips/DelinquentMMA.
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