UFC Baku lineup changes have reshaped the card ahead of June 27. Two fighters have pulled out of their scheduled bouts in the weeks leading up to the event, forcing the promotion to adjust matchups before the Octagon returns to Azerbaijan. Here is what changed and how it affects the card.
What Happened
Former middleweight title challenger Marvin Vettori withdrew from his scheduled bout against Ismail Naurdiev after suffering a broken rib in training. The injury was confirmed by MRI and forced Vettori out of what would have been his return fight, ending a training camp that had included a recent move from Florida to California to work alongside Beneil Dariush.
A second matchup also fell apart. Welterweight Andreas Gustafsson withdrew from his fight against Daniil Donchenko after experiencing serious heart issues during training camp, later identified as atrial fibrillation and recurring tachycardia. The symptoms grew worse as camp progressed, and Gustafsson was unable to get medical clearance to compete. The UFC has since released him from the roster, with matchmaker Sean Shelby telling Gustafsson the door remains open if he receives full medical clearance in the future.
Key Details for UFC Baku Lineup Changes
Naurdiev has not been officially confirmed with a replacement opponent following Vettori’s exit. Donchenko remains without a confirmed opponent as well after Gustafsson’s withdrawal, leaving two open slots on a card that already features 12 scheduled bouts.
The lightweight main event between Rafael Fiziev and Manuel Torres remains unaffected and still headlines the card, alongside the middleweight co-main event between Shara Magomedov and Michel Pereira. For the full breakdown of every fight still on the card, our complete UFC Baku preview covers every matchup and prediction heading into fight week.
Gustafsson’s release ends a brief UFC run that began on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024. He went 1-1 inside the Octagon, opening with a win over Khaos Williams before a first-round knockout loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov in his only other appearance.
What This Means
For Vettori, this delays a comeback bid that mattered both personally and competitively. He had already relocated his training camp specifically to prepare for this fight, and the injury pushes back his return to the middleweight rankings indefinitely. With new UFC ranking system, it is difficult to stay relevant for longer times.
For Gustafsson, the situation carries far more weight than a normal injury withdrawal. Heart-related symptoms that worsen under training stress are treated with caution across combat sports, and his release reflects how seriously the UFC handles unresolved cardiac concerns. His path back depends entirely on medical clearance, not matchmaking.
The card itself remains largely intact. Losing two fights from a 12-bout lineup is a meaningful shift, but it does not change the shape of the night’s biggest matchups.
Background Context
Vettori has long been one of the more durable names in the middleweight division, known for relentless pressure and a granite chin across a UFC run that included a title shot against Israel Adesanya. His move to train alongside Dariush signaled a real commitment to this comeback, making the rib injury especially frustrating for a fighter looking to climb back into title contention.
Alexander Gustafsson built a reputation in his short UFC stint as an aggressive, high-pressure welterweight who pushed pace from the opening bell. His swift release, conveyed directly through an email from Shelby, shows how quickly a roster spot can disappear when a fighter cannot be medically cleared, regardless of how that fighter performed in the cage.
Conclusion
UFC Baku heads into fight week with two confirmed changes and two open matchups still unresolved. Neither withdrawal touches the main event or co-main event, so the card’s biggest selling points remain intact. For Vettori, the setback is temporary. For Gustafsson, his UFC future now depends entirely on what his doctors say next.
