UFC Baku Picks: Three Bets to Target on Saturday's Main Card

After a successful debut event last year in the country, the UFC has returned to Azerbaijan with another edition of UFC Baku, featuring one of the country’s own in the featured attraction.

The UFC Baku main event will see a notable lightweight matchup, as Rafael Fiziev takes on Manuel Torres.

Fiziev will be looking for a change of momentum, as he comes into the bout with four losses in his last five fights. Most recently, he was finished by Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 325. His sole win in this span came at last year’s UFC Baku event, defeating Ignacio Bahamondes.

The rising Torres is 17-3, with a 5-1 Octagon record since coming into the UFC off Dana White’s Contender Series. Torres was last in action at UFC 323 in December, scoring a first-round knockout of Grant Dawson.

The co-main event will be a middleweight matchup featuring Shara Magomedov and Michel Pereira.

Shara “Bullet” is 5-1 in the UFC, coming into this bout off his Fight of the Night win over Marc-Andre Barriault at UFC Abu Dhabi last July. Pereira, meanwhile, snapped a three-fight losing skid in his last fight, scoring a split decision over Zachary Reese at UFC Houston in February.

The rest of the UFC Baku main card will feature Nazim Sadykhov vs. Matheus Camilo, Asu Almabayev vs. Charles Johnson, Ikram Aliskerov vs. Bruno Ferreira, and Abus Magomedov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk.

SHARA “BULLET” MAGOMEDOV VS MICHEL PEREIRA

Okay, I recognize this is one of those fights that has a risk of falling at either polar opposite of the spectrum – it can be a flashy, wonderful kickboxing brawl, or it can be a fight where neither man throws much of anything. We’ve seen Magomedov have slow starts, and in some fights, he throws a lot more in than others. But that shouldn’t take away from the technical striking he can deliver, which can put a beating on the torsos and legs of his opponents. You never know what you’re going to get from Pereira; meanwhile could look to bring a storm toward Magomedov, throwing volume to gain Octagon control – at the risk of being knocked out.

Pereira is too up-and-down to give a big edge to. Magomedov, meanwhile, has momentum on his side and is probably the better striker of the two.

BET: Shara Magomedov via KO/TKO/DQ (DraftKings: +150)

IKRAM ALISKEROV VS BRUNNO FERREIRA

Ikram Aliskerov is dangerous because of his Combat Sambo background, possessing great striking ability and mixing in wrestling to apply offensive pressure. Ferreira, however, has some dangerous power in his hands. If he’s not careful, Aliskerov could find himself eating a devastating shot early.

That said, Alikserov’s defense can be trusted a lot more than Ferreira’s. If Aliskerov can use grappling pressure while getting inside, or he brings this fight to the ground, it can spell trouble for Ferreira. If Aliskerov avoids Ferreira’s early storm anyway, that just spells more good news for him, as he looks to make a statement and break into the UFC middleweight rankings.

BET: Alikserov via KO/TKO (FanDuel: +130)

ABUS MAGOMEDOV VS MICHAL OLEKSIEJCZUK

To look at this matchup and just assume grappler vs. striker is a failure to understand the full potential of both. Magomedov doesn’t always impress, but he’s got size, reach, and kickboxing to keep opponents at bay. He can get hurt early, but he’s found ways to win, including via submission, in comeback style. Oleksiejczuk, meanwhile, can brawl and box with the striking he can deliver. He’s relentless with pressure, and letting him get inside can produce a nightmare for his opponents.

Magomedov is going to need to try and get this to the ground. If he tries to trade with Oleksiejczuk or can’t handle his pressure – or even worse, try to trade with him – it could be a bad day for him.

BET: Oleksiejczuk to win (Moneyline) (FanDuel: -112)