Rafael Fiziev secured a spectacular knockout victory with a spinning heel kick, his second such finish in the UFC following previous wins over Riddle and Torres. Despite suffering vision problems from a jab late in the first round, Fiziev composed himself and delivered the decisive strike in the second. Following the win, he earned a post-fight bonus and called out the BMF title.
Rafael Fiziev delivered one of the most spectacular finishes of 2026, knocking out his opponent with a spinning heel kick to earn a post-fight bonus and immediately call for a shot at the BMF title.
Fiziev, known by his nickname Ataman, improved his professional record to 14-5 with the win, making it his second spinning heel kick knockout in the UFC — a finishing sequence few fighters in any division can claim. The 33-year-old Kazakh lightweight, who trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and competes out of a switch stance, had to dig deep to get there. A sharp jab late in the first round left him dealing with vision problems, but he regrouped and put the fight away decisively in the second. Ranked seventh in the lightweight division, Fiziev is one of the more dangerous strikers in the weight class, averaging 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. Standing five-foot-eight with a 71-inch reach, he uses his unorthodox, high-volume striking to consistently trouble opponents at range.
Why it matters
- Fiziev's spinning heel kick KO streak is rare in the UFC, underscoring his elite level of striking craft at 155 pounds
- A seventh-ranked lightweight calling for the BMF title injects fresh intrigue into that title picture
- His ability to recover from adversity mid-fight, absorbing a damaging jab and still finding the finish, signals a maturity that lifts his case for a marquee matchup
