Brunno Ferreira’s coach says the key in UFC Baku is dealing with Ikram Aliskerov’s “same way” of fighting

UFC Baku brings a familiar question to the cage for Brunno Ferreira: can the Brazilian return to the win column against a foe whose approach has not changed much, even as the matchup itself has. Ferreira is set to face Ikram Aliskerov on Saturday, and his corner is emphasizing preparation for a difficult mix of fundamentals and unpredictability. The fight also carries added storyline weight because the original plan was different months ago, and the delay forced both fighters to rebuild the road to this moment.

According to a recent account of the build-up, Ferreira arrived in Baku on Thursday with coach Andre “Dida” as the team prioritized getting fully adapted to the local time zone. The positioning matters in travel-heavy fight weeks, particularly when the fight camp has to be compressed around jet lag, media requirements, and final sparring cycles. Dida also pointed to the atmosphere in Azerbaijan as a factor, describing Baku as a city that “breathes fighting” and noting the crowd energy around the event.

The matchup itself has a history. Ferreira was initially expected to fight Aliskerov at UFC 318 in July of last year, but the opponent withdrew due to injury. Ferreira then fought replacement opponent Jackson McKey instead, and the switch altered the competitive rhythm of his camp. Dida said the first studies had been tailored heavily to Aliskerov’s game, only for the plan to change late, after Aliskerov hurt his foot shortly before the fight date.

With Saturday’s fight finally in place, Dida is framing Aliskerov as a consistent operator. In his view, Aliskerov fights in “the same way” since his run in Brave, the promotion where Aliskerov built much of his public identity. That consistency, however, does not mean the fight becomes simpler. Dida suggested the preparation challenge is not just understanding Aliskerov’s base, but timing the moments when Ferreira can force advantages rather than reacting to familiar patterns under pressure.

For Ferreira, the approach is built around tools that can disrupt an opponent’s comfort. Dida described Ferreira as “more unpredictable” than before, pairing that idea with a stated emphasis on grappling pathways and power. Specifically, he highlighted that Ferreira brings a good judo and jiu-jitsu game, while also carrying knockout capability that can shift momentum if he lands clean. The coaching point is essentially to avoid a single-lane fight, where one phase dictates the entire pace, and instead to keep Aliskerov guessing through transitions and strike-danger.

The bout’s key tactical theme is likely to revolve around how Ferreira turns his unpredictability into sustained control. If Ferreira can threaten with KO power, it can make entries for clinch and ground exchanges harder for Aliskerov to execute on schedule. If Aliskerov can neutralize that threat and push the fight toward his preferred rhythm, Ferreira may need to rely more heavily on grappling sequencing and positional discipline rather than raw moments of finishing intent.

What to watch next is whether Ferreira’s camp can translate last year’s late-change preparation into specific, usable reads once the fight clock starts. Aliskerov’s reported consistency sets a clear baseline, but the “tools” Dida described for Ferreira suggest the deciding factor could be who shapes the fight rather than who merely survives it. Saturday’s result will clarify whether Ferreira’s rebuild ends with a clean return to form or another adjustment period as the UFC’s lightweight and welterweight ecosystems continue to churn.