Rafael Fiziev delivered a spinning heel kick knockout at UFC Baku and earned a post-fight bonus, his second such finish by spinning heel kick in the UFC following a previous win over Riddle and Torres. Despite suffering vision problems from a jab in the first round, Fiziev adapted in round two and finished with the highlight-reel technique. He called for the BMF title following the victory.
Rafael Fiziev delivered one of the most spectacular finishes of 2026, knocking out his opponent with a spinning heel kick at UFC Baku to claim a post-fight bonus and immediately call for the BMF title.
Fiziev, the 33-year-old Kazakhstani lightweight ranked seventh in the division, showed the kind of resilience and adaptability that has defined his career. He absorbed a stiff jab in the first round that caused vision problems, but regrouped between rounds and came back in the second to land the highlight-reel technique that ended the fight. It was the second time in his UFC career that Fiziev has finished an opponent specifically with a spinning heel kick, having previously used the same technique to defeat Riddle and Torres. The Tiger Muay Thai product carries a 14-5 record and operates out of a switch stance, which opens angles for the unorthodox weapons he has made his trademark. He lands 4.71 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent accuracy rate, numbers that reflect both his output and his precision as a pure striker.
Why it matters
- Fiziev's call for the BMF belt puts him in a crowded conversation at 155 pounds and raises his profile beyond the standard rankings chase
- A second spinning heel kick KO in the UFC cements his reputation as one of the most dangerous and creative strikers in the lightweight division
- At ranked seventh, a high-profile BMF opportunity could leapfrog the conventional top-five queue and deliver a marquee matchup
