Manuel Torres was looking to move up the rankings with a win over Rafael Fiziev, but that might no longer be the case.
Torres (17-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) meets Fiziev (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 280 (Paramount+) main event at Crystal Palace in Baku, Azerbaijan. With the UFC debuting its Meta-based rankings on Monday, both Torres and Fiziev have moved spots. Torres went from the No. 15 ranked lightweight to No. 13, and Fiziev went from No. 11 to unranked. So what would a win mean now for Torres?
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“I don’t think it goes against me because he’s always giving good fights, and if you think about it, he’s had two amazing battles against Justin Gaethje, who’s now the champion,” Torres told MMA Junkie through an interpreter. “I don’t think it gets in my way or it’s detrimental to me. I’m just going to go out there and fight.”
Torres is ranked No. 2 behind Terrance McKinney for shortest average fight time in UFC lightweight history. All his UFC fights have ended in Round 1, but he’s ready for his first five-round battle against Fiziev.
“I prepare myself for five rounds, six, seven, we are very well prepared for this,” Torres said. “People who see my fights understand that if the opportunity presents itself, I will find it. I’m not going to waste it, and that’s how I’m able to finish my fights. I believe it’s going to be a war. It’ll be a striking battle, and I’m ready for more rounds if needed.”
Torres sees Arman Tsarukyan as the No. 1 contender but also sees high stakes in the matchup between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329. He looks to enter the title conversation himself by taking out Fiziev.
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“Myself as well, I’m there in the mix, and if I do well, I do believe that I could get a title shot as well,” Torres said.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Baku: Manuel Torres unfazed by Rafael Fiziev now unranked
