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The UFC headed east to Azerbaijan for a UFC Fight Night event that featured a homecoming for Rafael Fiziev, while a card packed with emerging talent looked to put on a show in front of a packed crowd at the National Gymnastics Arena.

Here are our power rankings for the night’s top performers at UFC Baku.

UFC Baku Power Rankings

1. Rafael Fiziev

The homecoming hero of Baku was given the task of closing the show, and he did so in style with a brilliant second-round knockout of notorious first-round finisher Manuel Torres.

Fiziev entered the bout in poor form, having lost four of his last five bouts, but each of those matchups came against elite opposition. But against rising talent Torres, Fiziev proved that there are levels to the UFC’s lightweight division as he took the fight to the Mexican from the opening exchange, avoided Torres’ vaunted first-round finishing power, then stopped him in the second.

The finish, a spectacular spinning heel kick, with follow-up punches, was a thing of beauty, and the perfect way to send the Baku fans home happy after a great night of fights.

2. Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev

It will take you longer to read this than Yakhyaev needed to actually win his fight. The light heavyweight finisher entered the Octagon, patiently waited for Bruce Buffer to finish his announcements, then proceeded to demolish Julius Walker with strikes.

The whole fight lasted just seven seconds, as Yakhyaev gave another warning to the light heavyweight division that he’s a force to be reckoned with at 205 pounds.

3. Asu Almabayev

In terms of the most comprehensively excellent all-round MMA performance of the night, Asu Almabayev stood above the rest. Matched with the tricky veteran Charles Johnson, the Kazakh contender showcased smart stand-up skills, and mixed in his wrestling to keep the American guessing.

And when the fight hit the mat in the third round, Almabeyev produced a piece of grappling magic, as he worked himself into position and executed a perfect Suloev stretch to force the tap an secure his third straight win inside the Octagon.

Alabayev looks like a contender in the making at 125 pounds, and while he may need one more win to put himself right in line for a title shot, he can expect a big fight for his next assignment.

4. Matheus Camilo

Matched against Azerbaijan’s own Nazim Sadykhov, Brazil’s Matheus Camilo knew he was going into enemy territory in Baku. But, despite his opponent receiving the entirety of the fan support in the arena, it was Camilo who emerged with his hand raised in victory.

A well-timed punch dropped Sadykhov hard to the canvas, and a series of follow-up strikes forced the finish as Camilo claimed back-to-back wins in the UFC after losing his debut to Gabe Green in May 2025. Now he’s on a win streak, it’ll be interesting to see how far he can take his form in the talent-stacked lightweight division.

5. Daniil Donchenko

Having won The Ultimate Fighter, Ukraine’s Donchenko is starting to make real progress in the UFC’s welterweight division. His TKO of Swedish replacement opponent Theodor Berggren showcased Donchenko’s trademark aggression as he pushed the pace, hurt his man, and got the stoppage early in the second round.

At just 24 years of age, we’re only starting to scratch the surface of Donchenko’s potential in MMA gloves, but what we already know is that he’s an exciting talent to follow, and one who loves a tear-up. That’ll bode well for his booking prospects in the coming years, and it probably won’t be long before we see him on another fight card.

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Julian Lane is a former BKFC welterweight champion who is looking to return to winning ways against one of the top surging contenders in his division. A multi-time BKFC title challenger who trains with Julian Lane has weighed in on this looming Lane vs. Henry bout.

The two-time BKFC bantamweight title challenger who works with Lane is Ryan Reber, and he knows Julian Lane better than most on several levels. Bryce Henry is the surging 165-pounder who will collide with Lane, and the 6-0 bare knuckle boxer carries a one hundred percent finishing rate into his battle with ‘Let Me Bang’ Lane on June 4th at BKFC Hollywood.

This event also happens, but a couple of days after the eight-year anniversary of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, promoting their kickoff card, with the company kicking off their promotional efforts on June 2nd, 2018. When discussing his personal as well as professional relationship with Julian Lane, Reber said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Yeah. No, it’s good, man. That’s my brother in the game, and we talk a lot. We get to share a lot of ideas together. I mean, we talked on the phone the other night for an hour. Just talked about him, talked about me, talked about things that needed to be different, talked about things we could do differently. It’s great to have those people in my corner, man. It really is because a guy like him, he’s an absolute legend in the sport. So he’s got a lot of insight. He’s got a lot of knowledge to pass down.”

Julian Lane vs. Bryce Henry analyzed by BKFC’s promoter

Julian Lane and Bryce Henry is a compelling clash at BKFC’ Florida-based card in the coming weeks, and as BKFC president David Feldman commented on the consequential contest at welterweight, Feldman said [via Fight Book MMA],

“Julian Lane has been with us since the beginning and is a true BKFC fighting legend. However, Bryce Henry has been on an unprecedented winning streak, all by knockout. Both guys want a shot at the world title, and this is a true BKFC crossroads battle. The former champ versus the fast-rising star, expect fireworks from the opening bell.”

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Song Yadong vs. Deiveson Figueiredo is one of the more interesting UFC betting spots on the May 30 card in Macau because it pairs a younger, rising bantamweight with a former flyweight champion whose name still carries weight in the market. The line has already moved toward Song, which tells you where the early money has gone and sets up a clear debate between form, style, and finishing threat.

Song Yadong vs. Deiveson Figueiredo Odds

Song Yadong enters UFC Macau as the clear betting favorite over Deiveson Figueiredo, and the market has leaned his way hard since lines opened for the May 30 main event at Galaxy Arena in Macau, China. The current betting on ufc fights board shows Song around -590 at one book and between -550 and -560 at others, while Figueiredo sits near +390 to +410, which points to a wide gap in expected outcome.

Song’s case starts with youth, activity, and division fit. He is officially listed at 22-9-1, while Figueiredo is 25-6-1, and Song is the younger, taller bantamweight with a 5-foot-8 frame to Figueiredo’s 5-foot-5 build. Song’s recent form is still useful even after his January loss to Sean O’Malley, because that defeat came on the scorecards in a high-level five-round spot.

Before that, he beat Henry Cejudo by technical decision and had wins over Chris Gutierrez and Ricky Simon, which supports the view that he can hang with experienced names over distance. In a market like this, that recent resume helps explain why sportsbooks have made him a heavy side.

Figueiredo is still dangerous, and that is why his number is not longer despite the market move against him. He brings elite finishing history and a record of 9 knockout wins and 9 submission wins on his UFC profile, which means he can threaten in more than one phase.

The concern is his recent bantamweight run. Figueiredo lost to Umar Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision in January 2026, and he has dropped three of his last four at 135 pounds. That run does not erase his upside, but it does make the underdog case harder to sell against a fast, active contender in Song’s spot.

On paper, Song is the safer pick, and the best betting angle is his side rather than chasing a finish prop at a short price. Figueiredo’s live chances are real because of his finishing history, but the current market suggests most bettors see Song’s pace and divisional comfort as the steadier path to victory. For a clean fight-preview takeaway, Song by decision is the most workable call, with Song outright win the sharper side than forcing a method bet at the current number.

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Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano belongs near the top of MMA’s cultural milestones, Netflix and MVP said the event peaked at nearly 17 million viewers globally, while the U.S. peak was 11.6 million, which was enough to reset the American MMA viewership mark. That puts it in rare air for the sport, and in women’s MMA history.

Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Drew 17 Million Viewers on Netflix, Setting an MMA Mark

Carano, the early mainstream face of women’s MMA from the Strikeforce years, and Rousey, the athlete who took women’s MMA into the UFC and made it a major-force television property. Carano is a pioneer who boosted the visibility of women’s MMA from 2006 to 2009, while Rousey was the first woman signed by the UFC and the promotion’s first women’s bantamweight champion. Put simply, Carano helped open the door, and Rousey kicked it off the hinges.

The U.S. numbers beat the old MMA benchmark set by UFC on Fox 1, which peaked at 8.8 million viewers in 2011. For years, that was the number everyone pointed to when talking about live MMA on network TV, and it stood as a high-water mark for the sport’s reach. The Netflix event also averaged 12.4 million viewers on the main card globally, according to Netflix and MVP, which makes it more than a novelty.

• Bob Sapp vs. Akebono — 54 million viewers
• Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano —17 million global peak viewers
• UFC on Fox 1: Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos — 8.8 million peak viewers
• EliteXC: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson — 7.281 million viewers
• UFC on Fox: Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis — 6.7 million viewers
• The Ultimate Fighter 3 Finale: Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock — 6.524 million viewers
• The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale: Kimbo Slice vs. Roy Nelson — 6.1 million viewers
• UFC 75: Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson — 5.811 million viewers
• UFC on Fox 6: Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson — 5.2 million viewers

In women’s MMA history, the fight sits in a lane alongside a few turning points: Gina Carano’s Strikeforce run, Ronda Rousey’s UFC debut against Liz Carmouche at UFC 157, and the rise of fighters who followed them into bigger promotions and better paydays. Rousey and Carmouche gave the UFC its first women’s fight in 2013, and that moment is still a key line in any WMMA timeline. Carano’s title fight with Cris Cyborg in Strikeforce was another landmark, because it put a women’s bout at the center of a major show before the UFC had even committed to the division.

For MMA, the event is now a benchmark for streaming-era reach.

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UFC 327’s co-main event between Azamat Murzakanov and Paulo Costa has quietly turned into one of the sharper betting puzzles on the Miami card, with the market tilting toward the undefeated Russian southpaw as fight week begins.

Azamat Murzakanov vs Paulo Costa: UFC 327 Co-Main Betting Breakdown and Best Angles

For UFC 327’s co-main event, the moneyline has Azamat Murzakanov sitting as a moderate favorite in the -180 to -190 range, with Paulo Costa posted around +150 to +160 on the underdog side, a profile that will look familiar to anyone who browses markets at places like GG Bet Casino. In implied probability terms, that prices Murzakanov in roughly the low‑60 percent range to win, while Costa is being given a high‑30 percent chance by the market heading into fight week.

These numbers reflect Murzakanov’s 16‑0 professional record and undefeated UFC run at light heavyweight, along with his recent first‑round knockouts of Brendson Ribeiro and Aleksandar Rakic, contrasted with Costa’s move up from middleweight and a 15‑4 slate that includes a recent stretch where he went 2‑4 across six bouts despite decision wins over names like Sean Strickland and Roman Kopylov.

Betting trends show a slight skew toward Murzakanov tickets, helped by recency bias from his violent run at 205 and the lure of an undefeated record in a co-main spot. At the same time, Costa’s name value and history with Israel Adesanya keep him live in parlays and underdog shots, especially among casual bettors who remember his title run more than his layoffs.

The market leans toward a finish rather than a five‑round style spar, with bettors giving a slight edge to Murzakanov by knockout due to his recent record and striking profile. He has ended a large share of his wins by KO or TKO, including four of his last five UFC victories, and has shown a knack for timing counters from his southpaw stance, particularly against taller opponents trying to kick at range.

This is a high‑leverage spot for both men in a division that needs fresh title threats. Murzakanov is ranked number six at 205 pounds, riding a perfect professional record and back‑to‑back TKO wins over Aleksandar Rakic and Brendson Ribeiro that pushed him from prospect to genuine contender. Costa, a former middleweight title challenger, is testing himself at light heavyweight after years at 185, trying to prove that his power and pressure carry up a division following uneven results and periods of inactivity.

For risk‑tolerant bettors, the main decision is whether to trust Murzakanov’s momentum and cleaner recent data, or to back Costa’s experience in five‑round environments and his ability to push pace in a fight that, on paper, encourages exchanges from the opening horn.

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UFC legend Amanda Nunes has given her reaction to Kayla Harrison being forced to withdraw from UFC 324 due to a neck injury.

As we now know, Kayla Harrison is out of UFC 324 after undergoing neck surgery for a lingering injury that she’s been dealing with. Of course, that means the superfight against Amanda Nunes is off the cards, with the veteran originally coming out of retirement in order to square off with Kayla.

Alas, that isn’t going to happen, at least for the time being. Amanda Nunes is someone who firmly belongs in the greatest of all time conversation, and while we don’t know how long it’s going to take for Harrison to get back to 100% (or even close to it), you’d have to imagine this is still the fight Nunes wants.

With that being said, Amanda Nunes herself spoke candidly about what the future holds in a video posted to social media by the UFC.

Amanda Nunes reacts to Kayla Harrison’s neck surgery

“People are talking about an interim belt, or fighting someone else and everything, but guys, that’s not happening. I only fight for the regular belt. If UFC vacates the belt, and finds an opponent, then I fight But no interim belt for me.

“I also don’t want to fight another opponent now. That’s not an option. So, let’s see if we wait for Kayla or not, and see what’s going to happen. But, one thing is for sure, I feel good. I’m training a lot, I’m motivated, I’m strong, and I’m 37 years old. Full of energy. The Lioness is still hunting, I’m ready to get my belt back against whoever shows up.”

Nunes vs Harrison is the one we all want to see, but if it doesn’t happen, hopefully ‘The Lioness’ can still go out there and produce some magic this year.

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UFC star Justin Gaethje has named Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira as two fighters he wants to compete against again.

This weekend, Justin Gaethje will attempt to become a two-time UFC interim lightweight champion when he squares off with Paddy Pimblett in the main event of UFC 324. Beyond that, though, nobody really knows what the future holds for ‘The Highlight’, especially if he loses.

Even if he wins, Justin Gaethje is as unaware as the rest of us regarding when Ilia Topuria could be back after dealing with some personal issues as of late. We’re all hoping that Gaethje doesn’t hang up his gloves after Saturday night, and if he does opt to continue, there are some phenomenal options out there for him.

In a recent interview, Justin Gaethje opened up about two losses he really wants to avenge.

Justin Gaethje’s revenge plan

“Honestly, the winner of the BMF belt because those two guys, and it sucks to make excuses, but those are the only two guys that have ever got me not at my best, for two different reasons,” Gaethje said. “I talked about being in a bike crash 18 days before the Oliveira fight, banging my head off the road. I was compromised walking into that fight. And for Max, it was a mindset thing.”

“I think the biggest mistake for me was looking at it as a spectacle fight [the Holloway bout] or a fight that was for fun and not understanding or recognizing the danger that I was in,” Gaethje said. “So I didn’t get to go to my primal, competitive nature. That was a scary night. When you go to a primal place, you’re not there, you’re not retaining information. I remember his face, I’ve never seen an opponent’s face.

“So that was a big mistake for me and it happens in the preparation. There was a lot of mistakes made in my mind and I had the wrong mindset going into that fight and it was a huge mistake and that’s why I want to fight him again.”

Quotes via MMA Fighting

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Donn Davis, the founder and longtime chairman of the Professional Fighters League, announced his resignation from the role on January 21, 2026, marking a dramatic turning point for the organization he built from scratch eight years ago.

Davis revealed the decision in a statement posted to social media, reflecting on his journey from founding PFL in 2017 to establishing what he described as “the clear #2 MMA company worldwide”. The announcement comes amid significant organizational turbulence, with multiple high-level executives departing and the promotion undergoing major structural changes that have abandoned its founding principles.

“From the moment I founded Professional Fighters League 8 years ago, it has been my life,” Davis wrote in his statement. “Today I’m stepping down as chairman of PFL.”​

PFL Founder and Chairman Donn Davis Resigns Amid Massive Executive Exodus

The resignation follows a wave of executive departures that began in July 2025 when John Martin, former chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting, was appointed as PFL’s new chief executive. That move saw founding CEO Peter Murray transition to head PFL International before departing the organization entirely in January 2026. Days later, longtime president Ray Sefo, a holdover from the World Series of Fighting era, also parted ways with the promotion.

Under his leadership, PFL secured significant milestones including a $ 100 million investment from Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments in 2023, the acquisition of rival Bellator MMA in November 2023, and the signing of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Davis claimed PFL had grown to 80 of the top 300 world-ranked fighters under exclusive contract, 24 live events per year across four continents, distribution in 190 countries, and 30 million active social media followers.​

Davis himself became a controversial figure within the MMA community. He publicly criticized Frncis Ngannou for missing PFL Africa’s debut event, feuded with UFC commentator Joe Rogan over fighter quality claims, and compared departing two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison to NBA player Kevin Durant joining a super team. UFC president Dana White frequently dismissed Davis and PFL’s competitive threats, at one point stating Davis only comments on things that worry him.

In his resignation statement, Davis emphasized PFL’s accomplishments while expressing confidence in the organization’s foundation. “PFL global footprint, valuable assets, and market position has never before been achieved in MMA outside of UFC,” he wrote. “I’m confident this foundation should lead to great future success.”​

The statement concluded with a philosophical question: “I’ve loved fighting to build PFL. What do you fight for?”​

PFL’s next event is scheduled for February 7, 2026, at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, featuring lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov defending his title against Alfie Davis.

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Ahead of next month’s title fight at Noche UFC, former two-weight champion, Daniel Cormier claims it’s clear as day to see the incumbent, Sean O’Malley is playing “mind games” with his incoming foe, Merab Dvalishvili.

O’Malley, the current undisputed bantamweight gold holder, is slated to headline UFC 306 next month at the Las Vegas Sphere, taking on surging number one ranked contender, Merab Dvalishvili — in his second defense of his divisional crown.

Last time out, Montana striker, O’Malley turned in a dominant unanimous decision win over Marlon Vera — avenging his sole professional defeat in a stunning judging win over the Ecuadorian challenger.

As for Tbilisi native, Dvalishvili most recently added to his lengthy winning spree with a unanimous decision shutout win over former two-division champion and Olympic gold medal winner, Henry Cejudo.

Daniel Cormier breaks down Sean O’Malley – Merab Dvalishvili

And according to Hall of Fame inductee, Cormier, the undisputed gold holder, O’Malley is playing some major “mind games” with Georgian challenger, Merab Dvalishvili ahead of Noche UFC.

“This young man has managed to not only become a champion but to become a star,” Daniel Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “So when (Sean) O’Malley says things like that, I’m pretty sure he’s stewing. But he (Merab Dvalishvili) also has to recognize that these are the games that guys that understand fighting.”

They want to play the mind game with you, that really are like O’Malley or Conor McGregor,” Cormier explained. “Them being able to frustrate you is a win for them. Because if you get frustrated. and you start to make a mistake.”

Vowing to steal the proverbial thunder of super middleweight boxing star, Canelo Alvarez who defends his crown on the same night as his fight at the Sphere against Edgar Berlanga, O’Malley also vowed to land a stunning knockout of Dvalishvili.

“This fight, I’m feeling good as f*ck,” Sean O’Malley said. “I love this matchup. He’s got a ten fight win streak. It’s a big fight. It’s at The Sphere. It’s in competition with boxing, which is just kinda an extra little layer. 

“When it comes to Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, who are they talking about?” Sean O’Malley explained. “Are they talking about Canelo? Are they talking about the boxing fight? Or are they talking about the absolute dominating, beautiful, masterful, masterclass performance that I put on Merab and the viral knockout that came with it? Or are they talking about a 36 minutes Canelo boxing fight, that was kinda fire?”

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Ahead of next month’s title fight at Noche UFC, former two-weight champion, Daniel Cormier claims it’s clear as day to see the incumbent, Sean O’Malley is playing “mind games” with his incoming foe, Merab Dvalishvili.

O’Malley, the current undisputed bantamweight gold holder, is slated to headline UFC 306 next month at the Las Vegas Sphere, taking on surging number one ranked contender, Merab Dvalishvili — in his second defense of his divisional crown.

Last time out, Montana striker, O’Malley turned in a dominant unanimous decision win over Marlon Vera — avenging his sole professional defeat in a stunning judging win over the Ecuadorian challenger.

As for Tbilisi native, Dvalishvili most recently added to his lengthy winning spree with a unanimous decision shutout win over former two-division champion and Olympic gold medal winner, Henry Cejudo.

Daniel Cormier breaks down Sean O’Malley – Merab Dvalishvili

And according to Hall of Fame inductee, Cormier, the undisputed gold holder, O’Malley is playing some major “mind games” with Georgian challenger, Merab Dvalishvili ahead of Noche UFC.

“This young man has managed to not only become a champion but to become a star,” Daniel Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “So when (Sean) O’Malley says things like that, I’m pretty sure he’s stewing. But he (Merab Dvalishvili) also has to recognize that these are the games that guys that understand fighting.”

They want to play the mind game with you, that really are like O’Malley or Conor McGregor,” Cormier explained. “Them being able to frustrate you is a win for them. Because if you get frustrated. and you start to make a mistake.”

Vowing to steal the proverbial thunder of super middleweight boxing star, Canelo Alvarez who defends his crown on the same night as his fight at the Sphere against Edgar Berlanga, O’Malley also vowed to land a stunning knockout of Dvalishvili.

“This fight, I’m feeling good as f*ck,” Sean O’Malley said. “I love this matchup. He’s got a ten fight win streak. It’s a big fight. It’s at The Sphere. It’s in competition with boxing, which is just kinda an extra little layer. 

“When it comes to Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, who are they talking about?” Sean O’Malley explained. “Are they talking about Canelo? Are they talking about the boxing fight? Or are they talking about the absolute dominating, beautiful, masterful, masterclass performance that I put on Merab and the viral knockout that came with it? Or are they talking about a 36 minutes Canelo boxing fight, that was kinda fire?”

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