Rafael Fiziev knocked out his opponent with a spinning heel kick in round two at UFC Baku, earning another post-fight bonus. Speaking after the fight, Fiziev revealed he had been dealing with blurred vision from a jab in round one and decided to throw the spinning kick as a last resort, his second such finish in the UFC following previous knockouts of Riddell and Torres. He immediately called out the BMF title as his next target.
Rafael Fiziev delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of 2026, knocking out his opponent with a spinning heel kick in the second round at UFC Baku on June 27 to earn yet another post-fight performance bonus.
The Kazakhstani standout, fighting out of Tiger Muay Thai, now sits at 14-5-0 and holds the number seven ranking in the lightweight division. Fiziev, 33, is one of the most dangerous strikers in the 155-pound weight class, averaging an impressive 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. The finish was his second spinning heel kick knockout in the UFC, a roster that already included previous stoppages of Riddell and Torres. Speaking after the fight, Fiziev revealed that a jab in round one had left him dealing with blurred vision, and that he chose the spinning heel kick almost as a last resort — making the finish all the more remarkable.
Fiziev immediately called out the BMF title following the victory, setting his sights on one of the sport's most coveted prizes.
Why it matters
- Fiziev's call-out puts pressure on UFC matchmakers to consider him for BMF title contention at lightweight
- At number seven in the division, a high-profile BMF bout could rocket him toward the top five
- The lightweight top three features Charles Oliveira (ranked third, 37-11-0, age 36) and number one contender Arman Tsarukyan (23-3-0, age 29), both of whom represent the elite tier Fiziev is chasing
- Fiziev's pure striking output sets him apart stylistically from the division's wrestling-heavy contenders, making him a compelling and marketable opponent for any BMF challenger or holder
