Rafael Fiziev has distanced himself from any association with Kyrgyz MMA, saying he considers himself self-taught and does not regard Valentina Shevchenko as a product of the country's fighting system either. He praised Kyrgyz fighters Rajabali and Orolbai as genuine phenomena, comparing Rajabali's finishing ability to the rare gifts shared by fighters like Islam Makhachev, Khabib, and Jon Jones. Fiziev also credited Justin Gaethje's unique striking mechanics, noting that even Topuria was bemused before being hit by them.
Rafael Fiziev has gone on record distancing himself from any notion of a unified Kyrgyz MMA identity, describing himself as self-taught and rejecting the idea that Valentina Shevchenko emerged from a structured fighting system in Kyrgyzstan. In a recent interview, Fiziev also offered sharp praise for fellow Kyrgyz fighters Rajabali and Orolbai, calling them genuine phenomena rather than products of any school or system.
Fiziev's comments touch on a world-class peer in Shevchenko, the reigning Women's Flyweight champion who carries a 26-4-1 record at age 38. Born in Kyrgyzstan and now training out of Tiger Muay Thai, Shevchenko averages 3.14 significant strikes per minute with 52 percent accuracy and supplements her standup with 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes — a well-rounded profile that Fiziev suggests owes more to individual talent than national infrastructure.
When it came to Rajabali specifically, Fiziev reached for elite company to illustrate his point, comparing the fighter's finishing instinct to the rare gifts possessed by Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Jon Jones. Makhachev, the current pound-for-pound number one and Welterweight champion at 28-1-0, averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and submits opponents at a rate of 1.1 attempts per 15 minutes — a suffocating blend that makes the comparison meaningful. Jones, a 28-1-0 heavyweight at age 38, brings a six-foot-four frame and an 84-inch reach alongside 58 percent striking accuracy, representing a different but equally rare physical and technical combination.
Fiziev also highlighted Justin Gaethje's unconventional striking mechanics, noting that even Ilia Topuria found himself caught off guard before being hit by them — a detail that underscores how much Fiziev values mechanical originality over regional pedigree.
Why it matters
- Fiziev's self-taught claim separates individual fighter development from any emerging narrative around Kyrgyz MMA as a collective system
- Comparing Rajabali's finishing ability to Makhachev and Jones sets a high public benchmark for a fighter gaining attention
- The Gaethje observation adds nuance to how striking craft is evaluated beyond conventional schools or styles
