Rafael Fiziev delivered a second-round knockout of Manuel Torres in the UFC Baku main event on Sat., June 27, 2026, at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Entering the bout as the UFC’s No. 12-ranked lightweight, Fiziev halted the rise of Torres, who came in as a surging contender known for first-round finishing power.
The victory put Fiziev back in the win column after a knockout loss to Mauricio Ruffy and marked his first knockout win since 2022.
On the mic afterward, Fiziev credited newly crowned lightweight champion Justin Gaethje for helping him regain his self-belief. “Justin, man, bro, you have no idea how much you motivated me,” Fiziev said. “I wish you jumped into my body and felt how much I love you after your performance, bro. You gave me a lot of motivation because I didn’t believe in myself so much.”
“I was thinking, how can I believe in myself again after all of my stuff,” he continued. “It was so hard. And this guy stepped in the cage and made me happy. When I stepped in the cage tonight, I believed in my power because of this guy. Thanks, Justin. My man.”
UFC Baku was Fiziev’s third UFC main event, and his performance reinforced his place among the lightweight contenders at the National Gymnastics Arena.
