UFC Fight Night Picks: Fiziev vs. Torres Predictions (2026)
A year after the UFC made its debut in Baku, Azerbaijan, they are back with another event. Last year, they fought at the Baku Crystal Hall, but they are taking the event to the National Gymnastics Arena. Every active Azerbaijani UFC fighter is set to fight, including Rafael Fiziev, who is in the main event against Manuel Torres. Fiziev fought and won the co-main event last year in Baku and is back as the headliner. The event starts at 9 a.m. ET, with the main card starting at 12 p.m. ET on Paramount+.
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UFC Fight Night Picks: Fiziev vs. Torres Bets (2026)
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Farman Hasanov (-175) vs. Eric Nolan (+145)
Eric Nolan is fighting the undefeated, local Farman Hasanov. Hasanov is 5-0 as a professional with three victories coming in the LFA. He had a knockout loss as an amateur in 2022, one day after he had fought and won. Nolan is 8-4 as a professional and lost his UFC debut to Baisangur Susurkaev. Susurkaev is 12-0 and has finished each of his four UFC opponents.
Hasanov is unproven at this level, but he will have the crowd behind him. This fight is much more even than the odds suggest. Nolan stopped five takedowns from Susurkaev, who is a far better grappler than Hasanov.
The key to this fight for Nolan is staying on his feet. Hasanov can be hit, especially when both men start to throw punches in close range. Nolan has a lot of power, with three consecutive knockouts before the UFC that earned him a fight at UFC 319. This matchup feels rushed by the UFC to get an Azerbaijani fighter into the featured prelim. Nolan can spoil the party in Baku.
Pick: Eric Nolan (+145)
Rafael Fiziev (-115) vs. Manuel Torres (-105)
Rafael Fiziev is the No. 11-ranked fighter in the lightweight division, and he is fighting No. 15, Manuel Torres. This is a great matchup between two different styles of strikers. Fiziev is 1-4 in his last five fights. Mauricio Ruffy knocked him out in January, beat Ignacio Bahamondes in Baku last year, lost to Mateusz Gamrot, and lost twice to the current champion Justin Gaethje.
Torres is 17-3 as a professional and 5-1 since earning a contract on Dana White's Contender Series. His lone loss in the UFC was to Bahamondes via first-round knockout in 2024. His latest wins were knockouts over Grant Dawson and Drew Dober.
Fiziev is a technical striker with elite kickboxing. He has sharp Muay Thai with lethal kicks. Torres is a pressure fighter with natural power. He hits extremely hard and has true one-punch knockout power in the lightweight division.
Torres is going to blitz Fiziev in this matchup, likely early and often. Fiziev has to come prepared with slick counterpunches. He can stay at range with his kicks for a bit, but Torres is going to blitz inside looking for a knockout punch. The oddsmakers do not expect this fight to last long, setting the total rounds at 1.5, with a -500 tag on it not to go the distance. Fiziev has to land a powerful counter to Torres when he blitzes, which he is extremely capable of doing. He is one of the best pound-for-pound strikers in the promotion, and he should put on a show for his home country.
Pick: Rafael Fiziev (-115)