Rafael Fiziev secured a stunning spinning heel kick knockout, his second such finish in the UFC following previous wins over Riddell and Torres. After what he described as a difficult stretch in his career, an emotional Fiziev celebrated the performance bonus win and immediately called out for a BMF title shot.
Rafael Fiziev delivered one of the most spectacular finishes of 2026, stopping his opponent with a spinning heel kick knockout to earn a performance bonus and immediately demand a shot at the BMF title.
Fiziev, known as "Ataman," entered the bout ranked seventh in the lightweight division with a professional record of 14 wins and 5 losses. The 33-year-old from Kazakhstan, who trains out of Tiger Muay Thai, has built a reputation as one of the sport's most dynamic strikers. Fighting out of a switch stance with a 71-inch reach, he lands an impressive 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy — numbers that reflect a fighter who combines volume with precision. The spinning heel kick finish marked his second such knockout in the UFC, with previous stoppages of that kind coming against Riddell and Torres.
The win carried extra emotional weight for Fiziev, who acknowledged the finish came after what he described as a difficult stretch in his career. The celebration following the stoppage reflected both the relief and the significance of the performance.
Why it matters
- Fiziev's seventh ranking in lightweight puts him in a strong position to campaign for a marquee fight, and a BMF title shot would represent exactly that.
- The spinning heel kick knockout adds another highlight-reel finish to his résumé, reinforcing his standing as one of the division's most dangerous strikers.
- A BMF title bout would likely draw significant fan interest given Fiziev's finishing ability and crowd-pleasing style.
- The performance bonus signals UFC brass took notice, which could accelerate the matchmaking process for his next assignment.
