Rafael Fiziev has firmly rejected being called a product of the Kyrgyz martial arts school, stating he considers himself self-made. He also distanced Valentina Shevchenko from that label, noting she trained in Kyrgyzstan for only five or six years before traveling the world and crediting her development to coach Pavel Fedotov. Fiziev praised fighters like Rajabali and Orolbay as genuine phenomena, comparing Rajabali's finishing ability to the rare gifts he sees in fighters like Islam Makhachev, Khabib, Jon Jones, and Justin Gaethje.
Rafael Fiziev has spoken out against being categorized as a product of the Kyrgyz martial arts school, insisting he views himself as self-made and crediting his development to his own journey rather than any national system.
In the same interview, Fiziev pushed back against applying that label to Valentina Shevchenko as well. The Women's Flyweight champion, now 38 years old with a record of 26-4-1, spent only five or six years training in Kyrgyzstan before traveling internationally, Fiziev noted, attributing her growth primarily to coach Pavel Fedotov. Shevchenko, a southpaw standing five-foot-five with a 66-inch reach, averages 3.14 significant strikes per minute and lands at 52 percent accuracy, while also averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Fiziev reserved his highest praise for Kyrgyz fighters Rajabali and Orolbay, calling them genuine phenomena. He described Rajabali's finishing ability as a rare natural gift, drawing comparisons to fighters he clearly regards as exceptional talents: Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jon Jones, and Justin Gaethje. Makhachev, the current Welterweight champion at 28-1-0 and ranked number one pound-for-pound, is known for a suffocating grappling game that includes 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts in that same span. Jones, 38, carries a 28-1-0 record and lands 4.38 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy across a career that spans multiple divisions.
Why it matters
- Fiziev's comments reframe the narrative around Kyrgyz MMA, separating individual achievement from national school branding
- Shevchenko's identity as a product of Kyrgyz combat sports culture has long been part of her public story, making Fiziev's remarks notable
- Elevating Rajabali's finishing instincts alongside names like Makhachev and Jones signals genuine belief in a emerging fighter's elite ceiling
