Four years ago at UFC on ESPN 39, Rafael Fiziev landed a perfectly timed left hook just 18 seconds into the final round to knock out former champion Rafael dos Anjos. The referee stopped the contest as follow-up strikes confirmed the finish.
Four years ago this week, Rafael Fiziev delivered one of the most memorable finishes in recent lightweight history, stopping former champion Rafael dos Anjos just 18 seconds into the fifth round at UFC on ESPN 39 with a perfectly timed left hook that sent dos Anjos crashing to the canvas. Follow-up strikes prompted the referee to wave off the contest immediately.
Fiziev, known by his nickname "Ataman," enters the anniversary of that performance holding a 14-5 record and currently ranked seventh in the lightweight division. The 33-year-old Kazakhstani trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and fights out of a switch stance, a style that generates serious offensive output. His numbers reflect that aggression: 4.71 significant strikes landed per minute with a sharp 52 percent striking accuracy, making him one of the more efficient punchers in the 155-pound weight class.
Dos Anjos, the Brazilian former lightweight champion who trains out of RDA Academy, was 41 years old at the time and brought a 32-17 career record to the fight. The southpaw veteran has long been regarded as one of the division's most complete competitors, averaging 3.48 significant strikes per minute alongside a consistent grappling game that produces nearly two takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The finish came in the championship rounds, underlining Fiziev's dangerous late-fight striking power
- Dos Anjos, a former titleholder, represented a significant scalp that helped establish Fiziev among the division's elite
- The stoppage highlighted how Fiziev's switch-stance striking can create openings that experienced veterans struggle to read
- Both men stand at 173 cm with nearly identical reaches, making the left hook's timing and precision all the more striking
