Fiziev calls for BMF belt after spinning-heel-kick KO at UFC Baku

Rafael Fiziev made a dramatic statement at UFC Baku, finishing Manuel Torres with a spinning heel kick knockout and immediately calling for a shot at the BMF title in his post-fight interview.

Fiziev, known as "Ataman," enters the record books with his second spinning heel kick finish in the UFC, having previously ended the nights of both Torres and Riddell with the same technique. The 33-year-old Kazakhstani fights out of Tiger Muay Thai and now sits at 14-5-0, ranked seventh in the lightweight division. Standing five-foot-eight with a 71-inch reach, Fiziev is a switch-stance striker who lands 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. His performance at UFC Baku earned him another post-fight bonus — a recurring reward for his explosive finishing style. Perhaps most remarkably, Fiziev acknowledged after the fight that he had been dealing with double vision following the first round, yet trusted his instincts and committed fully to the spinning kick that sealed the finish.

Torres, nicknamed "El Loco," came in with a record of 17-4-0 and represented a dangerous assignment on paper. The 31-year-old Mexican fighter out of Entram Gym is a switch-stance striker who generates an exceptional 7.29 significant strikes per minute at 59 percent accuracy — numbers that rank among the highest in the division. Torres also averages 1.72 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a multi-dimensional threat profile. Despite those credentials, he was unable to withstand Fiziev's unconventional attack.

Why it matters

• Fiziev's second spinning heel kick KO in the UFC cements his reputation as one of the most dangerous finishers in the lightweight division
• A 14-5-0 record at rank seven puts him in position to push toward title contention, with the BMF belt now on his radar
• The win over a high-volume striker like Torres, who lands nearly eight significant strikes per minute, underscores the effectiveness of Fiziev's unorthodox striking arsenal