Following his performance at UFC Baku, Rafael Fiziev acknowledged that a fight with Charles Oliveira had been scheduled for October in Rio, and expressed openness to a BMF title bout with the Brazilian. Fiziev was quick to downplay his title aspirations, stating he considers himself far from a UFC championship, but noted a BMF matchup could be possible. He added that Arman Tsarukyan appears to be next in line as Oliveira's next opponent.
Rafael Fiziev has expressed openness to a BMF title bout with Charles Oliveira, though the Kazakhstani lightweight was careful to frame the idea as a possibility rather than a demand, following his recent performance at UFC Baku.
Fiziev, nicknamed "Ataman," carries a 14-5 record and sits at number seven in the lightweight division. The 33-year-old out of Tiger Muay Thai is one of the more dangerous strikers in the 155-pound class, averaging 4.71 significant strikes landed per minute at 52 percent accuracy. Fighting out of a switch stance, the five-foot-eight Kazakh has no submission attempts on record, underscoring just how heavily his game leans on the feet.
Oliveira, ranked third in the lightweight division and 11th pound-for-pound, brings a very different profile to the table. The 36-year-old Brazilian known as "Do Bronxs" holds a 37-11 record and trains out of Chute Boxe Diego Lima. His submission output remains elite at 2.6 attempts per 15 minutes, and he also contributes 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a constant threat across multiple phases. His 54 percent striking accuracy is among the better marks in the division.
According to Fiziev, a fight between the two had already been slated for October in Rio before it fell through. He acknowledged the BMF matchup could still materialise but was quick to downplay his own title ambitions, saying he considers himself far from contending for the UFC lightweight championship. He also noted that Arman Tsarukyan appears to be next in line to face Oliveira.
Why it matters
- Oliveira at rank three and Fiziev at rank seven means a BMF fight would carry genuine divisional weight at lightweight.
- Tsarukyan, ranked first at lightweight with a 23-3 record and 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes, is reportedly the more immediate target for Oliveira, which complicates the timeline.
- A striker-versus-submission artist matchup between Fiziev and Oliveira would present a sharp stylistic contrast, with Fiziev's volume striking against Oliveira's elite grappling threat.
