Rafael Fiziev secured a stunning knockout victory at UFC Baku with a spinning heel kick in the second round, his second such finish in the UFC following previous knockouts of Riddell and Torres. Fighting through vision problems caused by a jab in the first round, Fiziev adapted mid-fight and delivered the decisive blow. In his post-fight remarks, Fiziev called out the BMF title and was awarded another performance bonus.
Rafael Fiziev delivered one of the most spectacular finishes of 2026, stopping his opponent with a spinning heel kick in the second round at UFC Baku on June 27 to claim yet another performance bonus.
The 33-year-old Kazakh standout, known as "Ataman," had to dig deep to get there. A sharp jab in the first round left Fiziev dealing with vision problems, forcing him to recalibrate on the fly. He did exactly that, staying composed and unleashing the unorthodox strike that put the fight away cleanly. It was his second spinning heel kick knockout inside the UFC, a calling card that now sits alongside earlier stoppages of Riddell and Torres as evidence of his finishing creativity.
Ranked seventh at lightweight and fighting out of Tiger Muay Thai, Fiziev carries a 14-5 record and is one of the division's most dangerous strikers. He lands 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, numbers that reflect both his output and his precision. Standing five-foot-eight with a 71-inch reach, he operates out of a switch stance that allows him to generate the rotational power behind kicks like the one that ended Saturday's contest.
Why it matters
- Fiziev's call for the BMF title puts him in the conversation for a high-profile matchup outside the traditional title picture
- A second spinning heel kick finish cements a rare and marketable finishing ability among lightweights
- Back-to-back performance bonuses reinforce his value to the promotion and his case for a marquee fight next
In his post-fight interview, Fiziev made his ambitions clear, calling out the BMF title and signaling he wants the biggest stages available to him. With a finish like that on his resume, the argument is hard to ignore.
