There was little question during this week’s UFC Baku media day that Rafael Fiziev, fighting at home in Azerbaijan, is the star of the show. Even when main event opponent Manuel Torres was answering questions, after all, they all seemed to focus around Fiziev.
To the point of being asked whether Fiziev could finish him early on.
The Mexican lightweight took it all in stride. “I dont believe so. I do not believe so,” stated Torres (17-3). Shortly thereafter, he was essentially asked the same question a second time, about Fiziev beating his opponents in the first round, and whether it was possible that Torres himself would go down in round one.
Torres turned the question around, suggesting he could win in the opening frame and saying “yes, I think it’s possible. I’m always prepared to fight, and I’m prepoared to fight for five rounds, but it’s part of my strategy to win in the first round.”
Torres has won his last two fights, and is 5-1 overall in the UFC, helping him land his first main event in the promotion. Fiziev’s last win came at home in Baku, so his confidence is no doubt high coming back home. Manuel Torres, however, feels Fiziev hasn’t seen the entirety of his skillset.
“Truthfully I think that rafael fiziev has not seen my game, really, because I finish my fights in the first couple of minutes. But I’m coming in with my game and my pace, just gonna impose myself on the way to a win.”
Torres would later speak on the lightweight division overall, which just saw Justin Gaethje claim gold from Ilia Topuria. “It is the most dangerous division. It’s a division where it’s the most talented, definitely the most exciting division in the sport. And I think things are going to flow, and they’re going to flow up until the time that I have a shot at the title.”
Watch the full UFC Baku media day appearance by Manuel Torres above.
