Baku, Azerbaijan hosts this week’s UFC Fight Night event, a fight card populated with twelve bouts ten of which feature local/regional Muslim athletes that will compete against fighters arriving from across the globe. There is one fight featuring two area combatants as well we get a fight featuring athletes who face off from Columbia against Australia.
They employ a large cage in Azerbaijan as well the crowd there will enjoy twelve hand selected bouts all of which feature male fighters and most of which favor slightly the area participant.
Bouts kick off at 6am PST for the prelims then the main card at 9am PST.
Last week we correctly predicted Manuel Kape to overcome his opponent after a couple of close rounds which is exactly what transpired. We turn our attention now to Baku.
Rafael Fiziev -120 vs. Manuel Torres +100 Lightweight (155lbs.) main event
Torres is a Mexican finisher.
Since his debut on DWCS he has realized a 6-1 record in the UFC with all six of those wins being first round finishes. Torres has been consistent as his defeat to Ignacio Bahamondes was also via first round submission.
Torres has NEVER fought out of the first round in the entirety of his professional career save for one early fight he had in 2018.
Torres has a Muay Thai background, he employs constant forward pressure designed to lure opponents into the firefight, as well Torres has a granite beard.
Torres’ last four foe’s have prepared him in style and level of competition to be more than competitive in this step up fight against a savant Muay Tahi striker in Rafael Fiziev.
In native Azerbaijani Fiziev, the striking coach at Tiger Muat Thai in Phuket, Thailand we have a dominant local warrior versed in world class Muay Thai and supplemented with a blue belt in BJJ.
Fiziev is 1-4 in his last five, but his defeats were against elite top five competition in the division the likes of which Torres has yet to compete against, as well that sole victory was against Bahamondes, the man who defeated Torres in one round.
Torres will sport height, age and reach advantages over the local Fiziev, however, who Fiziev has competed against must factor into this handicap as well the damage and attrition those bouts levied upon him.
Yes, Fiziev has competed against the higher level of adversary by far, but what and how much have those defeats taken from the thirty-three year old? Meanwhile Torres travels across the world to take on a most dangerous power striker/kicker in his own back yard and with all the locals jeering for Fiziev and against Torres.
This fight figures to be a real barnburner…do not miss this main event.
Total in this fight: 1.5Rds Over -140
Abus Magomedov -150 vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk +130 Middleweight (185lbs.)
We’ll refer to each of these men in this column by their first names.
Abus is the local fighter who has realized a 4-3 record in the UFC.
Abus can strike and he has a solid wrestling base as do most Russian athletes. Abus has displayed an extremely balanced set of mixed martial arts weaponry for he has an impressive fourteen KO’s followed by eight submission wins and six wins via decision.
Magomedov has competed against three fighters currently ranked in the top seven of the division and despite him losing all three of those scraps, Abus arrives to this fight looking to bounce after a submission loss back in October of last year.
In Polish power puncher Mike O we have an extremely aggressive knockout artist who once competed against the light heavyweights before dropping down to middleweight where he has realized a 6-4 record.
Michal has not faced the lethal set of adversary that Abus has, but he has fought several of the same athletes and has realized success. Mike O will do all he can to keep this battle on the feet for he will own advantages in athleticism, toughness, and most especially striking aptitude for he sports a +1.35 significant strike per minute advantage over Abus who holds a negative significant strike differential.
Where Abus may be giving away striking aptitude and athleticism, he will own advantage in his grappling/wrestling, and it is here that Abus will look for build the foundation of this fight ….by taking Mike O to the floor for a roll immediately.
Where this fight takes place will be a great barometer to who is in control here for Mike O is close to inept on the canvas while he will hold great advantage in the striking and leg kick department should this fight remain standing.
This will be a great clash of styles but one where I believe the underdog is more than live!
Michal Oleksiejczuk +130 circa.
I also released this on the GambLou ‘Sneak-Teep’ podcast Oleksiejczuk +135, so the number is dropping buy now.
Total in this fight: 1.5 rds. Over -135
Strong lean over
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Enjoy the fights
published 6-23-26