Fiziev Leads CIS Fighters With Eight UFC Post-Fight Bonuses

Rafael Fiziev leads all fighters from former Soviet states in UFC post-fight bonus earnings, having collected eight performance bonuses across his career, according to a breakdown of CIS-region fighters on the roster.

Khamzat Chimaev and Ilia Topuria each sit one step behind Fiziev with seven bonuses apiece. The 32-year-old Chimaev, who represents the United Arab Emirates and fights out of Allstars Training Center, carries a 15-1 record and holds the number-one divisional ranking at middleweight. The six-foot-two wrestler lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at 60 percent accuracy, and his 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes ranks among the most aggressive grappling rates in the sport.

Topuria, fighting out of Spain at 29 years old, has built a 17-1 record and currently sits second in the lightweight division while holding the number-one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. Known as "El Matador," the five-foot-seven southpaw striker generates an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute.

Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan each have six bonuses, as does veteran submission specialist Alexey Oleynik. Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion, enters the list despite being one of the more methodical fighters on the roster, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate across his 28-1 career record. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw fights out of Eagles MMA.

Why it matters

• Fiziev's eight bonuses reflect a finishing style that consistently delivers highlight-reel moments, separating him from peers with comparable records.
• Chimaev and Topuria's seven bonuses each underscore their dual-threat capabilities, making them among the most entertaining fighters in their respective divisions.
• The concentration of bonus leaders among CIS-region fighters illustrates the outsized impact that region has had on UFC entertainment value in recent years.