The upcoming UFC Baku event has been impacted by the withdrawal of fighter Andreas Gustafsson, who is unable to compete due to significant health issues. This unfortunate development comes just a month before the scheduled fight night.
Gustafsson was set to face Daniil Donchenko in a welterweight bout. However, reports indicate that the Swedish fighter, known as “Bane,” has been experiencing serious heart problems, specifically atrial fibrillation and recurring heart episodes. These symptoms reportedly worsened during his training camp, despite his overall good physical condition, leading to his removal from the card.
The 35-year-old fighter is now stepping away from competition indefinitely to focus on his health. Gustafsson secured his UFC contract after a knockout win on Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2024 and made his Octagon debut with a decision victory in June 2025. However, his subsequent fight resulted in a first-round knockout loss. He currently holds a professional record of 12 wins and 3 losses.
It remains uncertain whether Daniil Donchenko will be given a short-notice replacement opponent or if his fight will also be removed from the UFC Baku lineup. Donchenko, a 24-year-old from Ukraine, earned his UFC spot with a knockout win on The Ultimate Fighter 33 in March 2025 and has a professional record of 13 wins and 2 losses, with a 2-0 record in the UFC.
This is the second fight cancellation for the UFC Baku card, following the earlier withdrawal of Marvin Vettori due to a broken rib.
UFC Baku Fight Card (Partial)
- Rafael Fiziev vs. Manuel Torres – lightweight (main event)
- Shara Magomedov vs. Michel Pereira – middleweight (co-main event)
- Ikram Aliskerov vs. Brunno Ferreira – middleweight
- Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Andrey Pulyaev – middleweight
- Asu Almabayaev vs. Charles Johnson – flyweight
- Nazim Sadykhov vs. Matheus Camilo – lightweight
- Abul Rakhman Yakhyaev vs. Julius Walker – light heavyweight
- Daniil Donchenko vs. TBA – welterweight
- Bekzat Almakhan vs. Jean Matsumoto – bantamweight
- Abusupiyan Magomedov vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk – middleweight
- Farman Hasanov vs. Eric Nolan – welterweight
- Rizvan Kuniev vs. Tyrell Fortune – heavyweight
- Ismail Naurdiev vs. TBA – middleweight
- Kaan Ofli vs. Javier Reyes – featherweight
