Rafael Fiziev earned a performance bonus with a second-round spinning heel kick knockout, his second such finish in the UFC following an earlier KO of Laureano Staropoli. Fighting through double vision caused by a jab in the first round, Fiziev improvised the spinning attack and put his opponent away cleanly. After the win, Fiziev called out the BMF title.
Rafael Fiziev delivered one of the most spectacular finishes of the year, putting away his opponent with a spinning heel kick in the second round to earn a performance bonus and immediately set his sights on the BMF title.
Fiziev, 33, entered the fight ranked seventh in the lightweight division and showed exactly why he remains one of the most dangerous strikers at 155 pounds. The Kazakhstan native, who trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and fights out of a switch stance, carries a 14-5 record and a reputation for highlight-reel finishes. He lands 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, and the spinning heel kick knockout was his second of that variety inside the UFC, the first having come against Laureano Staropoli. Standing five-foot-eight with a 71-inch reach, Fiziev generates serious power from an unorthodox arsenal that few lightweights can replicate.
What makes the finish even more remarkable is the adversity Fiziev overcame to get there. A jab in the first round left him fighting through double vision, yet he improvised the spinning heel kick attack and landed it cleanly enough to end the contest without question. The performance bonus was a fitting reward for the kind of creative, high-risk striking that defines his style.
After the stoppage, Fiziev wasted no time making his next goal public, calling out the BMF title in his post-fight remarks.
Why it matters
- Fiziev's finish adds to a growing case that he is among the most dangerous finishers in the lightweight division
- A BMF title call-out raises his profile beyond the standard rankings conversation and puts his name in a high-visibility matchup
- His ability to produce a spinning knockout while impaired by double vision underscores the unpredictability he brings to any matchup at 155 pounds
