Fiziev dismisses ties to Kyrgyz MMA school, praises Radjabali as a phenomenon

Rafael Fiziev has pushed back on being labeled a product of the Kyrgyz martial arts school, stating he considers himself self-made. He also distanced Valentina Shevchenko from the label, noting she trained in Kyrgyzstan for only five or six years before moving on. Fiziev spoke highly of fellow fighters from the region, calling Radjabali a world-class phenomenon with 100 percent finishes, and comparing him to the likes of Justin Gaethje, Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Jon Jones as fighters with a God-given gift.