Rafael Fiziev collected his eighth UFC post-fight bonus following his spectacular spinning heel kick knockout at UFC Baku. Fiziev revealed he was dealing with vision problems caused by a jab in the first round but chose to open Round 2 with the high-risk technique. The Azerbaijani fighter, who now has two UFC knockouts via spinning heel kick, celebrated emotionally and called for a shot at the BMF title.
Rafael Fiziev added another highlight-reel performance to his resume at UFC Baku, finishing his opponent with a spinning heel kick knockout to earn his eighth UFC post-fight bonus.
The 33-year-old Kazakhstan-born lightweight, who fights out of Tiger Muay Thai and competes under the nickname "Ataman," entered the contest ranked seventh in the division carrying a 14-5 record. Despite suffering vision problems after being caught by a jab in the opening round, Fiziev chose to open the second round with the dramatic spinning heel kick, landing it cleanly enough to stop the fight. The moment marked his second UFC knockout by that technique, underlining the kind of elite striking that has defined his career. Standing five-foot-eight with a 71-inch reach, Fiziev averages 4.71 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent accuracy rate, numbers that reflect both his output and precision as a switch-stance striker.
Following the finish, Fiziev celebrated emotionally and publicly called for a shot at the BMF title.
Why it matters
- A second spinning heel kick KO in the UFC cements Fiziev as one of the most technically creative strikers in the lightweight division.
- His eighth post-fight bonus speaks to a consistent ability to deliver finishes and entertaining performances on the biggest stage.
- The call for a BMF title shot puts Fiziev's name into a high-profile conversation that could accelerate his path toward a major lightweight booking.
- At 33 and ranked seventh at lightweight, Fiziev needs marquee wins to push into contender territory, and a performance like this builds the case.
