Rafael Fiziev earned a post-fight bonus at UFC Baku after knocking out his opponent with a spinning heel kick, his second such finish in the UFC following previous stoppages of Riddle and Torres. Fiziev revealed that a jab in the first round damaged his eye and caused double vision, a situation he used as justification to throw the risky technique. An emotional Fiziev dedicated the victory to the month of Muharram and immediately called for a shot at the BMF title.
Rafael Fiziev delivered one of the most spectacular finishes of 2026 at UFC Baku, knocking out his opponent with a spinning heel kick to claim a post-fight bonus and immediately demand a shot at the BMF title.
Fiziev, known as "Ataman," holds a 14-5 record in the lightweight division, where he sits ranked seventh. The 33-year-old Kazakhstani out of Tiger Muay Thai is one of the most prolific strikers in the 155-pound class, averaging 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. The spinning heel kick finish was his second of that variety inside the UFC, with previous stoppages of Riddle and Torres also on his highlight reel. What made Saturday's finish more remarkable was Fiziev's own admission that a jab in the first round damaged his eye and left him fighting with double vision — a condition he cited as the reason he reached for the high-risk technique. He also dedicated the victory to the month of Muharram in an emotional post-fight moment.
Why it matters
- Fiziev's second spinning heel kick KO in the UFC cements his reputation as one of the most dangerous and unconventional strikers in the lightweight division
- A BMF title call-out puts Fiziev in the conversation for a high-profile showcase fight at 155 pounds
- At ranked seventh in the division, a bonus-earning performance of this kind strengthens his case for a step up in competition
