Rafael Fiziev has stated he considers himself self-made and does not identify as a product of the Kyrgyz school of martial arts, noting he has received significant criticism from that country. Fiziev also praised fighters such as Radjabali Shaydullaev and Orolbai as genuine phenomena, and commented on Justin Gaethje's unorthodox striking ability, saying fighters like Gaethje, Islam Makhachev, Khabib, and Jon Jones possess something rare that sets them apart.
Rafael Fiziev has publicly distanced himself from the Kyrgyz martial arts establishment, declaring in a recent interview that he views himself as self-made rather than a product of that country's combat sports system. He also revealed he has faced considerable criticism from within Kyrgyzstan itself.
Fiziev did not hold back in crediting fighters he genuinely admires, singling out Radjabali Shaydullaev and Orolbai as authentic phenomena in the sport. He also spoke warmly about Justin Gaethje's unorthodox striking, grouping him alongside Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Jon Jones as athletes who possess a rare and indefinable quality that separates them from their peers.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, the undefeated former lightweight champion from Russia who retired with a perfect 29-0 record, averaged an exceptional 5.32 takedowns per fifteen minutes across his career, making him one of the most dominant grapplers the sport has ever produced. Jon Jones, who carries a 28-1 record and stands six feet four inches tall with an 84-inch reach, is widely regarded as one of the sport's all-time greats, connecting on 58 percent of his significant strikes throughout his career.
The Kyrgyzstan connection in this story carries a broader backdrop worth noting. Valentina Shevchenko, the reigning Women's Flyweight champion and arguably the country's most decorated active fighter, holds a 26-4-1 record and has built her reputation through precision striking at 52 percent accuracy. Fiziev's explicit rejection of any shared identity with the Kyrgyz martial arts tradition is a pointed statement given that context.
Why it matters
- Fiziev's comments signal a deliberate separation from a national combat sports identity that includes a reigning world champion
- His praise of Gaethje, Makhachev, Khabib, and Jones as rare talents reflects how he frames elite-level striking and grappling ability
- The criticism he says he has received from Kyrgyzstan adds a personal dimension to his self-described independent path through the sport
