This is the live blog for Rafael Fiziev vs. Manuel Torres, the lightweight main event for Saturday’s UFC Baku card at National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Fiziev is hanging on to a top 15 spot at 155 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, while Torres looks to establish himself among the elite of one of MMA’s deepest divisions.
Azerbaijan’s Fiziev (13-5) is mired in the worst stretch of his career, having suffered a knockout loss to Mauricio Ruffy this past February at UFC 325 that sent him to his fourth loss in five fights. Prior to this slump, Fiziev had won six straight fights and was well on his way to a title shot before dropping fights to Justin Gaethje, Ruffy, and Gamrot, the latter via a knee injury that took him out of action for a year and a half.
Torres (17-3) is trending in the opposite direction, coming off of consecutive first-round knockouts of Grant Dawson and Drew Dober. Since being signed off of Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, Torres has won five of his six UFC fights.
Check out the Rafael Fiziev vs. Manuel Torres live blog below.
Alright, let’s see how much Rafael Fiziev has left in the tank. Are his recent losses to elite competition a sign that he’s past it, or is he about to right the ship against Manuel Torres?
FanDuel odds have this dead even, with both fighters at -108. Too close to call.
Referee Marc Goddard the third man in the cage for the main event.
Fiziev out firing, he throws a body kick and connects with an overhand right. Torres punches his way off of the cage. Fiziev backs up staying just out of range. Fiziev changes levels and gets in on a takedown, driving Torres to the fence and putting him on his backside. Torres able to get up quickly, but he lands a knee to the groin and that briefly pauses the action. Fiziev good to go.
Torres hunting with that jab, Fizeiv countering with outside leg kicks. Torres throwing the jab out with a ton of confidence. Fiziev having a hard time closing the distance now. Another good jab by Torres. Fiziev catches a kick and dumps Torres. He goes to the ground wanting to steal the round with damage from top position, Torres ties him up nicely and springs up. Fiziev with a counter left. Torres just misses on a high knee, but the follow-up punch connects. Close round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Torres.
Whoa, wicked spin kick by Fiziev lands. Looks like it was partially blocked, but enough got through to wobble Torres. Fiziev pounces and swarms with punches. Torres is hurt, Fiziev on top throwing heavy follow-ups. Goddard has to step in, this one is over!
Official result: Rafael Fiziev def. Manuel Torres via KO (spin kick, punches) (R2, 0:15)
Fiziev is understandably emotional and extremely happy. He jokes that he’s going to get a bonus and spend it on buying a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
He says there was an issue with his eye in the first round and he was seeing double. He was like, “What the f*ck can I do in the second round?” and then just sasid the hell with it and threw a spinning kick. Worked out pretty well.
Asked what he wants next, he says, “BMF belt!”
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