UFC Baku Results: Rafael Fiziev Reclaims Momentum While Several Contenders Shake Up the Rankings

The UFC returned to Baku, Azerbaijan on June 27 for an action-packed Fight Night card that delivered highlight-reel knockouts, rare submissions, and several performances that could dramatically reshape multiple divisions.

With nine of the thirteen bouts ending inside the distance, UFC Baku proved to be one of the most exciting Fight Night events of the year, headlined by hometown favorite Rafael Fiziev making a statement in the lightweight division.

Rafael Fiziev Returns to Contender Status

Fighting in front of his home crowd, Rafael Fiziev reminded fans why he has long been considered one of the UFC’s elite lightweights.

After entering the bout looking to halt a difficult stretch in his career, Fiziev needed just 15 seconds of the second round to finish Manuel Torres with a spectacular spinning wheel kick followed by punches. The knockout was one of the most memorable finishes of 2026 and instantly re-established Fiziev as a legitimate Top 10 lightweight contender.

The victory was especially significant because Torres had been viewed as one of the division’s rising stars. Instead, Fiziev protected his ranking while handing the Mexican contender a major setback in his climb toward title contention.

Rather than talking about rebuilding, Fiziev can now realistically target another ranked opponent as he works toward another run at lightweight gold.

Shara Magomedov Continues Winning

In the co-main event, Shara “Bullet” Magomedov earned a unanimous decision over Michel Pereira.

While the performance wasn’t as explosive as some of his previous outings, defeating an experienced and dangerous veteran like Pereira adds another quality victory to Magomedov’s résumé. The win should keep him climbing the crowded middleweight rankings, although many fans will likely want to see him tested against an established Top 10 opponent next.

Asu Almabayev Makes a Strong Flyweight Statement

One of the night’s most impressive performances belonged to Asu Almabayev.

Facing ranked flyweight Charles Johnson, Almabayev secured a rare Suloev Stretch submission in the third round. Beyond the uniqueness of the finish, defeating a ranked opponent positions Almabayev for a significant jump in the flyweight rankings and potentially into the title conversation.

Matheus Camilo Announces Himself

Matheus Camilo produced one of the biggest upsets of the evening by stopping Nazim Sadykhov just 91 seconds into the opening round.

Sadykhov entered the fight with considerable momentum, making Camilo’s first-round TKO even more impressive. The Brazilian immediately established himself as a lightweight prospect worth watching moving forward.

Middleweight Division Gets Deeper

The middleweight division also saw several meaningful victories.

Ikram Aliskerov earned a dominant unanimous decision over Brunno Ferreira, strengthening his position among the division’s rising contenders.

Abus Magomedov wasted little time submitting Michal Oleksiejczuk in the opening round, giving himself another quality victory over a dangerous opponent. Both fighters strengthened their cases for matchups against Top 15 competition.

Other Standout Performances

Several additional fighters delivered memorable finishes:

• Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev scored an incredible eight-second knockout, earning one of the fastest finishes of the year and a Performance Bonus.
• Daniil Donchenko continued his rise with a devastating head-kick TKO.
• Nursulton Ruziboev secured a first-round rear-naked choke victory.
• Kaan Ofli picked up a first-round arm-triangle submission.
• Farman Hasanov earned a unanimous decision victory in his UFC debut.

Biggest Winners

Rafael Fiziev – Re-established himself as a legitimate lightweight contender and likely earned another high-profile ranked opponent.

Asu Almabayev – Defeated a ranked flyweight in spectacular fashion and should move significantly closer to title contention.

Matheus Camilo – Catapulted himself into the lightweight conversation after upsetting one of the division’s hottest prospects.

Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev – Delivered one of the year’s most memorable knockouts and instantly became a fighter fans will want to watch.

Biggest Losers

Manuel Torres – Entered UFC Baku on the verge of breaking into the lightweight elite but now faces rebuilding after suffering a devastating knockout loss.

Michel Pereira – Missed an opportunity to halt Magomedov’s momentum and remains outside the upper tier of the middleweight rankings.

Nazim Sadykhov – Lost valuable momentum after being stopped in the opening round by Camilo.

Final Thoughts

While UFC Baku wasn’t loaded with championship implications on paper, the event produced several performances that could have lasting effects on the UFC rankings.

Fiziev’s return to form was the headline story, but emerging contenders like Asu Almabayev, Matheus Camilo, Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev, and Daniil Donchenko ensured that multiple divisions gained intriguing new names to watch during the second half of 2026.

If UFC Baku is any indication, the lightweight and middleweight divisions have become even more competitive, with several new contenders positioning themselves for marquee matchups before the year is over.