​The UFC returned this past weekend with a card in Baku, Azerbaijan that was all-action, featuring nine finishes—nine of the 13 bouts ended by submission or TKO. While nothing from UFC Baku reshaped the division or produced a clear No. 1 contender, the night delivered plenty of excitement and set up intriguing matchups for several winners. Here are three fights to consider after UFC Baku.
Rafael Fiziev vs. Dan Hooker (Lightweight)
Rafael Fiziev capped the event with a dramatic TKO in the main event, improving to 11th in the lightweight rankings by beating No. 15 Manuel Torres. The win marks a strong step back toward the top of the division for Fiziev, though it doesn’t vault him into immediate title contention. Post-fight, Fiziev called for a BMF title shot, a belt currently held by Charles Oliveira, the No. 3 contender at 155 pounds. A potential next move for Fiziev could be a high-stakes bout against Dan Hooker, who sits around No. 9 in the media rankings. A Fiziev-Hooker pairing, likely on a major card later this year (perhaps the Abu Dhabi event in October), would be an action-packed matchup that fans would love to see.
Sharaputdin Magomedov vs. Israel Adesanya (Middleweight)
Magomedov’s win over Michel Pereira showed he can collect a win in the UFC, even if it wasn’t a flawless performance. With Magomedov now ready to step up, a test against a bigger name makes sense, and Adesanya represents a logical, intriguing next challenge. Adesanya, meanwhile, has dropped four straight fights, all to top-tier competition, and his struggles suggest he’s no longer in title contention. A bout between Magomedov and Adesanya would deliver striking prowess for fans and could headline a Fight Night, offering a compelling clash for both fighters as they navigate a shifting middleweight landscape.
Asu Almabayev vs. Brandon Moreno (Flyweight)
This pairing could be a natural next step as both competitors continue to shape their trajectories in the flyweight division. Almabayev has shown potential, and pairing him with a name like Moreno could generate significant interest while providing a meaningful test for Almabayev on the path toward title contention or a top-15 breakthrough.