UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Torres Preview

Rafael Fiziev rocks Justin Gaethe with a stinging left hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

The UFC heads to the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan, for an action-packed Fight Night card. The card is filled with top-tier matchups and dangerous finishers, all looking to score a landmark victory this Saturday night. In the co-main event, two of the wildest strikers in the Middleweight division collide when Shara Magomedov takes on Michel Pereira. In the main event, two Lightweights will look to climb the rankings when divisional stalwart Rafael Fiziev takes on marauding knockout artist Manuel Torres. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Abus Magomedov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

Abus Magomedov cracks Brunno Ferreira with a stiff left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Abus Magomedov: 28-7-1, 14 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Michal Oleksiejczuk: 22-9-0, 16 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Magomedov has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Bruno Ferreira (15-3-0), Dustin Stoltzfus (16-8-0), and Michel Pereira (32-14-0). He is a lengthy striker with an excellent kicking game and solid wrestling. He throws every shot with knockout intent and is always coming forward to pressure his opponent. Magomedov will regularly switch stances and constantly fire kicks from range, particularly front kicks. He’s averaging over two takedowns per fifteen minutes and is tough to escape on the mat. Training at UFD Gym, he transitions quickly on the ground and remains active on top, consistently throwing ground-and-pound strikes or pursuing a choke. Magomedov has secured 15 of his 21 finish victories in the first round and is at his most dangerous early on, often decreasing his output as the fight continues.

Michal Oleksiejczuk lands a vicious shot to the body of Gerald Meerschaert. Credit: MMA Mania.

Oleksiejczuk has won three of his last five bouts, with UFC victories over Chidi Njokuani (25-12-0), Gerald Meerschaert (37-22-0), and Modestas Bukauskas (20-7-0). He’s a heavy-handed marauder who’s always coming forward and throwing bombs. He won’t spend much time at range, constantly pressuring his opponent and looking to close the distance to fire heavy straights and looping hooks. Oleksiejczuk has solid distance management, cutting off the cage and holding the center well, but is always willing to hang in the pocket and exchange. Training with the Fighting Nerds, he very rarely throws kicks, almost exclusively relying on the power in his hands to get the job done. He won’t typically look to grapple, but he has solid takedown defense and vicious ground-and-pound if he finds himself in top position. Oleksiejczuk has secured thirteen of his seventeen finish victories in the first round and is especially dangerous early on.

#14 Ikram Aliskerov vs. Brunno Ferreira

Ikram Aliskerov rains down ground-and-pound shots onto Andre Muniz. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Ikram Aliskerov: 17-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Brunno Ferreira: 15-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Aliskerov has won four of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over Jun Yong Park (19-7-0), André Muniz (24-8-0), and Warlley Alves (15-8-0). He’s a well-rounded, technical fighter with big-time punching power and an extensive Sambo background. He has fast hands and kicks and tends to headhunt, regularly mixing in powerful head kicks without telegraphing. He’s impressively accurate and fights behind his jab, having landed 64% of the significant strikes he’s attempted in the UFC. Training with the KHK MMA Team, Aliskerov is a former world champion in Sambo and has excellent takedowns, averaging over three per fifteen minutes. He focuses on damage in top position and will always look to posture up and land ground-and-pound. Aliskerov rarely sees the judges’ scorecards and has gone to just two decisions in his last ten fights.

Brunno Ferreira looks to secure one of Jackson McVey’s arms from top position. Credit: Ag. Fight.

Ferreira has won three of his last five fights, with UFC victories over #9-ranked Middleweight Gregory Rodrigues (19-6-0), Marvin Vettori (19-10-1), and Armen Petrosyan (9-5-0). He’s an explosive striker with a solid grappling background. He’s constantly moving and changing stances, looking for entries before blitzing into the pocket to unload combinations. Ferreira is typically at a reach disadvantage and is best on the inside, so he regularly looks to close the distance and let his hands go. Training at Brazilian TKO, he is a lifelong judoka and BJJ practitioner, making him as dangerous on the mat as he is on his feet. He’s averaging over one takedown per fifteen minutes, has heavy top control, and is active in top position, immediately pursuing a finish once the fight hits the floor. Ferreira is very dangerous early on, having secured eleven first-round finishes in his professional career, but he has the cardio to go fifteen minutes comfortably and carries his power throughout.

#7 Asu Almabayev vs. #15 Charles Johnson

Asu Almabayev unloads punches onto a grounded CJ Vergara. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Flyweight Bout

Asu Almabayev: 23-3-0, 3 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Charles Johnson: 19-8-0, 8 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Almabayev has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #14-ranked Flyweight Alex Perez (26-10-0), Jose Ochoa (9-2-0), and Ode’ Osbourne (13-10-0). He’s exceptionally well-rounded, with a dominant wrestling style and flashy striking. He’ll constantly throw spinning attacks on the feet and can effectively do damage both at range and in the pocket. Almabayev has landed 27 takedowns in just seven UFC fights and has excellent chain wrestling, able to find takedowns from anywhere. Training at DAR Pro Team, he’s an efficient grappler, never wasting energy or telegraphing his shots or transitions. He has smothering top control, rarely allowing his opponent to get off any offense or escape as he pursues a finish. Almabayev tends to heat up as the fight continues, increasing his pace and output and often securing finishes in the second or third round.

Charles Johnson fires a straight right hand at Lone’er Kavanagh. Credit: MMA Mania.

Johnson has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van (17-2-0), #5-ranked Flyweight Lone’er Kavanagh (10-1-0), and #12-ranked Flyweight Sumudaerji (19-7-0). He’s a dangerous striker with solid wrestling and submission skills. He throws everything in combination, constantly mixing in kicks and evenly distributing his shots across the head, legs, and body. He has excellent footwork and head movement, regularly switching stances while keeping his head off the centerline. Training at Murcielago MMA, Johnson is willing to grapple and is a tenacious wrestler capable of defending takedowns and landing his own. He has just one finish loss and has an excellent chin, always willing to eat a shot to land one. Johnson has solid cardio and can maintain a consistently heavy pace across three rounds.

Nazim Sadykhov vs. Matheus Camilo

Nazim Sadykhov lands a thudding right hook on Nikolas Motta. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Bout

Nazim Sadykhov: 11-2-1, 8 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Matheus Camilo: 10-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Sadykhov has won three of his last five fights, with one draw, and has UFC victories over Terrance McKinney (18-8-0), Ismael Bonfim (20-6-0), and Nikolas Motta (15-6-0). He is a well-rounded, heavy-handed scrappy fighter who is dangerous anywhere the fight goes. He has excellent footwork, controls the center of the Octagon, and stays in perpetual motion while doing damage. Sadykhov remains technical throughout, always pushing a heavy pace, keeping his guard high and his punches straight, yet still throws every shot with knockout intent. Training with the Serra-Longo Fight Team, he’s averaging over one takedown per fifteen minutes and has excellent scrambles and reversals, typically finding himself in top position after grappling exchanges. He transitions very quickly in top position and can secure submissions with impressive speed, particularly chokes. Sadykhov is always dangerous and can produce a finish at any time, with nearly an even split of first- and third-round finishes.

Matheus Camilo stuns Viacheslav Borshchev with a jab. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Camilo has won four of his last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Viacheslav Borshchev (8-7-1). He’s a vicious power-puncher with solid grappling skills who’s always looking for a one-shot knockout. He often looks to counterstrike and will constantly unload wide, looping hooks and overhands as his opponent enters his range, especially his lead hook. Camilo has powerful leg kicks but tends to headhunt and favors power over volume. Training at Xtreme Couture, he has powerful takedowns and often pursues explosive blast double legs. He focuses on control and hunting for submissions from top position and rarely postures up or gets wild. Camilo tends to fade as the fight continues, but he carries his power throughout and is always dangerous.

Shara Magomedov vs. Michel Pereira

Shara Magomedov fires a wild kick to the head of Marc-André Barriault. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Shara Magomedov: 16-1-0, 12 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Michel Pereira: 32-14-0, 11 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Magomedov has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Bruno Silva (23-13-0), Marc-André Barriault (17-11-0), and Michal Oleksiejczuk (22-9-0). He’s a devastating, dynamic striker with a fantastic arsenal of flashy attacks. He’s in perpetual motion and throws everything with impressive speed. Magomedov does an excellent job of varying his targets, especially with his kicks, regularly attacking the head, body, and legs with a variety of shots. Training at GOR MMA, he rarely initiates grappling exchanges but has successfully defended 71% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. He constantly mixes in wild moves like spinning kicks and jumping knees and remains highly unpredictable throughout the fight. Magomedov has earned four post-fight bonuses in his five UFC appearances and always puts on a show inside the Octagon.

Michel Pereira blasts Zachary Reese with a left hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Pereira has won two of his last five fights, with UFC wins over Santiago Ponzinibbio (31-9-0), Khaos Williams (16-5-0), and Michael Oleksiejczuk (22-9-0). He’s a wild, unorthodox striker known for his big-time power and crazy antics inside the cage. Training at Overcome Academy, he throws every shot with power, stays unpredictable, and is at his best in a brawl. Pereira will constantly look to set up and land his right hand, regularly blitzing forward to fire heavy lunging straights or overhands. He has relaxed his striking style a bit since he first entered the UFC, but he still has a full array of flashy attacks he can break out at any time. He’s averaging over one takedown landed and about one submission attempted per fifteen minutes, and he holds a black belt in BJJ. Pereira has earned seven post-fight bonuses in his promotional tenure and is rarely in a boring fight.

Rafael Fiziev vs. #13 Manuel Torres

Rafael Fiziev launches into flying knee attempt on Rafael dos Anjos. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Bout

Rafael Fiziev: 13-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Manuel Torres: 17-3-0, 9 K/TKO, 7 Sub.

Fiziev has won one of his last five bouts and has UFC wins over #7-ranked Lightweight Renato Moicano (21-7-1), Ignacio Bahamondes (17-7-0), and Rafael Dos Anjos (32-17-0). He’s a technical kickboxer with impressive power and dangerous counterstriking. He constantly switches stances and remains elusive, regularly leaning back to slip head kicks and punches before returning fire. Training at Tiger Muay Thai, Fiziev throws everything with impressive speed and power but never gets sloppy, always maintaining fantastic footwork and distance management. He’s highly accurate and varies his strikes well, attacking his opponent’s head, legs, and body with equal tenacity. He’s willing to grapple and is a solid wrestler with great double-leg takedowns and stout takedown defense. Fiziev has earned post-fight bonuses in more than half of his UFC appearances and always leaves everything inside the cage.

Manuel Torres fires a powerful kick to the head of Drew Dober. Credit: MMA Mania.

Torres has won four of his last five outings, with UFC victories coming over #14-ranked Lightweight Grant Dawson (24-3-1), Drew Dober (29-15-0), and Chris Duncan (15-3-0). He’s an explosive striker with one-shot knockout power. He throws everything with knockout intent and is always coming forward, pressuring his opponent. Training at Delincuentes MMA, Torres is always willing to take a shot to land one and will use his offense as his defense, rarely looking to cover up and instead trying to overwhelm his opponent rather than avoid punches. He has outstanding takedowns in the clinch and will immediately try to get a hold of his opponent’s neck if the fight hits the mat. He favors power to volume and will throw every shot with knockout intentions, often with reckless abandon. Torres has only been to a single decision in his pro career, with nineteen of his fights ending in the first round, and has earned a Performance of the Night bonus in all five of his UFC wins. 

Best Bets

Nazim Sadykhov Moneyline: This is an excellent matchup between two talented Lightweights on the rise. Although both are dangerous, I believe Sadykhov is the more well-rounded, technical fighter and can beat Camilo anywhere the fight goes. Sadykhov’s biggest advantage is likely on the feet, as Camilo tends to get wild and headhunt, whereas Sadykhov has a much more composed style and varies his targets. Camilo has shown solid grappling skills, but I think Sadykhov is the better wrestler of the two and will be able to both land and deny takedowns throughout the fight. I anticipate Sadykhov getting on the gas pedal early, forcing Camilo to the outside of the cage as he picks him apart with precise kicks and punches. As the fight continues, I expect Camilo’s output to slow and his cardio to wane, allowing Sadykhov to dictate the pace and where the fight takes place. Ultimately, I believe Sadykhov will get the better of Camilo on the feet and on the mat en route to an impressive victory.

Shara Magomedov by KO/TKO: This is a fascinating fight between two of the wildest, most unorthodox strikers on the UFC roster. Both have an array of impressive wins and wild knockouts, but I believe this is a poor stylistic matchup for Pereira. Magomedov is one of the quickest, most dynamic strikers in the UFC, while Pereira has looked a bit slow and plodding in his recent outings, largely relying on his heavy hands to do damage and not using his variety of kicks and flashy attacks. I expect Magomedov to pressure Pereira from the opening bell, keeping a high pace, battering his legs with kicks, and doing significant damage inside the pocket and in the clinch. As Magomedov continues to pour it on, I believe the damage and pace will wear down Pereira, who tends to gas out anyway, creating even more openings for Magomedov to land. The longer the fight goes, the worse it will likely get for Pereira. Regardless of when or how it comes, I’m confident Magomedov will find the right shot and knock out Pereira.

Fiziev vs. Torres Over 1.5 Rounds: This is an excellent matchup with massive implications for both fighters. For Fiziev, this is an opportunity to get back in the win column and back into the rankings after a tough run as of late. For Torres, this is by far the biggest name he has ever faced and would be the most significant win of his UFC career. Despite the fact that Torres is yet to see a second round in his promotional tenure, I believe he will struggle to secure another flash knockout against someone as technically skilled as Fiziev. I still expect Torres to come out guns blazing, but I anticipate Fiziev will remain defensive and cautious early on, especially coming off a knockout loss. I anticipate some close, competitive striking exchanges early, and some grappling exchanges between the two, likely initiated by Fiziev to slow down the freight train that is Torres in the first round. I still believe this will be a great fight with plenty of highlights, but I’m confident it will last at least one and a half rounds.