Fiziev distances himself from Kyrgyz MMA scene, credits personal development for his rise

Rafael Fiziev has rejected the label of being a product of the Kyrgyz martial arts school, saying he is self-made and attributes his development to his own hard work rather than any national system. Fiziev also addressed the wider success of Kyrgyz fighters, noting that athletes like Razhababli and Orolbay are genuine phenoms but crediting their success to natural gifts and upbringing rather than a formal school. He drew comparisons to fighters such as Justin Gaethje, Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Jon Jones, describing them as individuals blessed with rare innate qualities.