Rafael Fiziev has rejected the label of being a product of the Kyrgyz martial arts school, stating he considers himself self-made. He also argued that Valentina Shevchenko, who trained in Kyrgyzstan for five or six years before moving on, and Murtazali Magomedov, who primarily trains in Dagestan, should not be attributed to that school either. Fiziev praised Radjabali Shaydullaev as a global phenomenon, comparing his unique qualities to those of Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Jon Jones.
Rafael Fiziev used an interview ahead of UFC Baku to push back against the narrative that his success is tied to the Kyrgyz martial arts school, declaring himself self-made rather than a product of any regional system.
Fiziev extended that argument beyond himself, contending that Valentina Shevchenko and Murtazali Magomedov should not be credited to the Kyrgyz school either. In Shevchenko's case, he noted she trained in Kyrgyzstan for only five or six years before moving on. Magomedov, he argued, primarily develops his craft in Dagestan and belongs to that tradition instead.
Shevchenko, the reigning Women's Flyweight champion, carries a 26-4-1 record and is one of the sport's most decorated fighters. The 38-year-old southpaw, who was born in Kyrgyzstan and now trains out of Tiger Muay Thai, lands 3.14 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, and adds 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes to her arsenal.
Fiziev reserved genuine praise for coach Radjabali Shaydullaev, calling him a global phenomenon and placing him in rare company. He drew comparisons to figures whose singular qualities have defined eras of the sport: Khabib Nurmagomedov, the undefeated 29-0 Russian wrestler who averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career; Jon Jones, the six-foot-four heavyweight with an 84-inch reach and 58 percent striking accuracy across a 28-1 record; and Islam Makhachev.
Why it matters
- Fiziev's remarks reframe how credit is assigned within Central Asian MMA, distancing individual fighters from a single regional institution
- The comments add a layer of narrative tension heading into UFC Baku, where regional identity and athletic legacy carry cultural weight
- Placing Shaydullaev alongside names like Nurmagomedov and Jones signals Fiziev views his coach's influence as transcending any one national school
