Rafael Fiziev KOs Manuel Torres With Spinning Kick in Baku
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Rafael Fiziev delivered a highlight-reel finish in front of a roaring home-region crowd, stopping Manuel Torres with a vicious second-round spinning heel kick in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 27, 2026. The lightweight showdown at the National Gymnastics Arena ended in spectacular fashion, with Fiziev landing the kick flush before following up with ground strikes to force the stoppage and send the building into a frenzy.
The victory was deeply personal for Fiziev, who was fighting in his native region and carried the energy of a partisan crowd that treated the night like a homecoming. Ranked No. 11 in a stacked lightweight division, the 13-5 veteran needed a statement win to climb back toward the title picture, and he could not have scripted a more emphatic one than a walk-off spinning kick that instantly became one of the year's best knockouts.
Torres, the No. 15-ranked Mexican contender, entered the bout with a sterling 17-3 record and a reputation as a dangerous finisher in his own right. Known for his aggressive, fan-friendly style, Torres came forward looking to turn the fight into a brawl, but Fiziev's striking precision and timing proved the difference, as the Azerbaijani fighter picked his moment and unleashed the technique that ended the night.
The spinning heel kick is among the most difficult and risky strikes in mixed martial arts, requiring a fighter to turn his back momentarily and trust his timing completely. Fiziev, a former Muay Thai standout, has long been celebrated for his elite striking arsenal, and the finish showcased exactly why opponents must respect his unpredictability on the feet. When it connects cleanly, there is no more dramatic way to end a fight.
The main event capped a card that delivered violence from the opening bell. Three of the first five bouts ended inside the distance, including Asu Almabayev locking up a Suloev stretch and Matheus Camilo quieting the partisan crowd with a finish of his own. The early stoppages set an electric tone and primed the arena for the fireworks that Fiziev and Torres would ultimately provide in the headliner.
For Fiziev, the win is a crucial step in a career that has been interrupted by injury and tough matchups against the division's elite. He has shared the cage with some of the best lightweights in the world, and a finish this emphatic reestablishes him as a serious threat in a weight class overflowing with talent. A signature knockout on home soil is exactly the kind of moment that resets a contender's trajectory.
The result also reinforced the UFC's continued investment in international markets, with Baku hosting its second event and proving once again that the promotion can deliver electric atmospheres far beyond its traditional strongholds. The passionate crowd, the local hero in the main event, and the string of highlight finishes made for a memorable night that the region is unlikely to forget anytime soon.
Attention now turns to what comes next for both men. A win like this should vault Fiziev up the rankings and into conversations about a marquee matchup against a fellow contender, while Torres will look to regroup after a tough night and rebuild his momentum. In a lightweight division where the margins are razor-thin, a single moment can change everything.
For fans, the spinning heel kick will live on in highlight packages and social media loops for months to come, a reminder of why the sport's most spectacular finishes are so addictive. Fiziev's name is once again on the lips of lightweight observers, and the only question left is how high the home-region hero can climb from here. UFC Baku will be remembered as the night Rafael Fiziev announced he is far from finished.
