Rafael Fiziev is scheduled to face surging lightweight Ignacio Bahamondes in the co-main event at the inaugural UFC Baku event on June 21st. This fight holds particular significance as a form of homecoming for Fiziev, who has strong ties to Azerbaijan. The fight was officially confirmed by the promotion on Friday, following earlier reports.
The main event for the first-ever UFC show held in Azerbaijan will feature a light heavyweight contest between former champion Jamahal Hill and one-time title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr.
Fiziev, currently holding a record of 12 wins and 4 losses, was born in Kazakhstan but grew up in Azerbaijan, making his participation in this event a notable return. He will be looking to rebound and snap a three-fight losing streak. Before his recent skid, Fiziev had a remarkable run in the UFC, winning six consecutive bouts, including impressive knockout victories over seasoned fighters like Rafael dos Anjos and Renato Moicano. His recent defeats have come against high-level contenders such as Justin Gaethje and Mateusz Gamrot.
Ignacio Bahamondes from Chile boasts a professional record of 17 wins and 5 losses. He enters this bout, arguably the biggest challenge of his mixed martial arts career to date, on the back of a strong performance streak in the octagon. Bahamondes has compiled a 6-2 record within the promotion, notably earning three performance bonuses in his recent victories over Christos Giagos, Manuel Torres, and Jalin Turner.
