Main Event: Fiziev’s Triumphant Return
In the main event held at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, local fighter Rafael Fiziev secured a second-round knockout victory over Manuel Torres. This win marked Fiziev’s second triumph on home soil and served as a rebound from a previous loss earlier in the year. The lightweight bout captivated the audience, particularly as Fiziev delivered a decisive finish.
The first round saw both lightweight strikers engaging actively, with Fiziev utilizing low kicks and Torres landing a jab. As the second round commenced, Fiziev connected with a spinning wheel kick, which disoriented Torres. Fiziev then capitalized on the opportunity, swarming his opponent to secure the finish at 0:15 of Round 2. This performance concluded the second UFC event hosted in Baku.
Fiziev’s victory against Torres was achieved via TKO, specifically through a head kick and subsequent punches. This marked a significant moment for the Azerbaijani fighter, who had previously won only one of his last five fights, that victory also occurring in Baku against Ignacio Bahamondes.
Co-Main Event and Key Victories
The co-main event featured a middleweight clash where Shara Magomedov defeated Michel Pereira by unanimous decision, with scores of 29-28, 29-28, and 29-28. The fight began with intense action, as Pereira dropped Magomedov with a right hand. However, Pereira’s pace slowed, allowing Magomedov to become the more active fighter and ultimately secure the final two rounds on all three scorecards. Magomedov has now achieved consecutive victories and six wins in his seven UFC appearances.
Another notable lightweight bout saw Matheus Camilo defeat local favorite Nazim Sadykhov by TKO at 1:31 of Round 1. Camilo silenced the home crowd with a swift right hand early in the opening stanza. The two fighters, who had previously trained together, exchanged strikes before Camilo landed a decisive blow to Sadykhov’s temple, leading to the finish. This explosive performance by Camilo, who is 11-3 overall with seven finishes, is expected to build momentum for him in the lightweight division.
In a main card flyweight contest, Asu Almabayev secured a submission victory over Charles Johnson using a Suloev stretch at 3:33 of Round 3. Almabayev, a contender from Kazakhstan, maintained control throughout the fight, outperforming Johnson in striking and grappling exchanges. Johnson attempted to minimize damage and return to his feet, but Almabayev’s persistence led to the unconventional submission. Almabayev is the fourth fighter in the promotion’s history to win a fight using this technique, joining Kenny Robertson, Aljamain Sterling, and Zabit Magomedsharipov.
Additional Main Card Results
The main card also included other significant matchups. Ikram Aliskerov defeated Brunno Ferreira by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 30-27 in Aliskerov’s favor. Additionally, Abus Magomedov secured a submission victory over Michal Oleksiejczuk via a guillotine choke at 3:25 of Round 1.
The event also featured preliminary card action that set the stage for the main card. These preliminary bouts included victories for Farman Hasanov, Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev, Nursulton Ruziboev, Kaan Ofli, Daniil Donchenko, Jean Matsumoto, and Tahir Abdullayev. Tahir Abdullayev, a native fighter, defeated Jefferson Nascimento via TKO (punches) at 4:28 of Round 3, further exciting the home crowd.
The UFC Baku event, also known as UFC Fight Night 280, showcased a series of competitive fights, culminating in a memorable main event victory for Rafael Fiziev on June 27.
Read Also
Source: ufc.com
