Rafael Fiziev secured a spinning heel kick knockout at UFC Baku and earned another post-fight performance bonus, his second such finish by that technique in the UFC following earlier stoppages of Riddell and Torres. Fiziev revealed post-fight that a jab in the first round caused double vision, but he chose to throw the spinning kick in the second round and it landed flush. After the victory, Fiziev called for a shot at the BMF title.
Rafael Fiziev delivered a stunning spinning heel kick knockout at UFC Baku on June 27, earning a post-fight performance bonus and immediately calling for a shot at the BMF title.
Fiziev, the 33-year-old Kazakhstani lightweight ranked seventh in the division, improved his professional record to 14-5-0 with the finish. Fighting out of Tiger Muay Thai in a switch stance, the 173-centimeter striker has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous and creative knockout artists in the lightweight division. He lands 4.71 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent accuracy rate, numbers that underscore his combination of volume and precision. The spinning heel kick stoppage was his second finish by that technique in the UFC, with earlier victims including Riddell and Torres.
The victory was even more remarkable given what Fiziev revealed afterward. A jab landed in the first round left him suffering from double vision, yet he pushed forward into the second and uncorked the wheel kick anyway, landing it flush for the finish. His willingness to throw a high-risk spinning technique while compromised speaks to the kind of confidence that has made him a fan favorite throughout his UFC career.
Why it matters
- Fiziev's second spinning heel kick finish in the UFC cements his status as one of the division's most distinctive finishers
- A seventh-ranked lightweight calling for the BMF belt signals his desire for a high-profile fight outside the traditional title picture
- His ability to finish the fight through double vision adds credibility to his case for a marquee matchup
- The performance bonus is the latest in a pattern of Fiziev delivering memorable nights that resonate beyond his divisional ranking
