Rafael Fiziev is entering one of the most pivotal fights of his career thus far.
On Tuesday morning, the UFC announced that the 11th-ranked lightweight contender would be headlining its return to Baku against Manuel Torres. It marks a grand homecoming for the Azeri, and the pressure is on Fiziev to deliver in front of his compatriots.
To understand Fiziev’s situation, however, it helps to understand his career first.
Before he was a mixed martial artist, Fiziev was a deadly Muay Thai Practitioner. During his time in that discipline, he won the Bangla Boxing Stadium title and twice reached the final of the Muay Thai Marathon Super Welterweight Tournament. He then used those skills to transition to MMA in 2015, fully making the switch in 2018.
In 2019, Fiziev made his UFC debut in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He was pitted against Magomed Mustafaev and was finished in the first round – not the best way to start one’s Octagon tenure. Little did everyone know, however, he was just getting started.
After that loss, Fiziev went on a six-win streak that included three knockouts and five bonuses. His peak came when he demolished former champion Rafael dos Anjos early in the fifth round of a July 2022 headliner. That set him up for a major opportunity against another ex-titleholder in Justin Gaethje in London, but he lost, though he did get a sixth straight bonus.
Fiziev was very unfortunate to blow out his knee in his next fight against Mateusz Gamrot. When he returned to competition over a year later, it was against Gaethje on short notice. Despite putting up another bonus-winning effort, he lost again.
Now on a career-worst skid, Fiziev needed to rebound. Luckily, the UFC was set to debut in his home country, and he drew a surging Ignacio Bahamondes. He put on a workmanlike performance to claim a decision victory, and “Ataman” seemed to be back on track.
For his supposed next fight, Fiziev was given a third former champion in Charles Oliveira. Unfortunately, he injured his knee and was replaced by his old foe Gamrot, who ate a second-round submission loss in his stead. His next assignment turned out to be Mauricio Ruffy earlier this year, and he was finished late in the second round.
This leads back to Torres.
“El Loco” has become one of the promotion’s most exciting prospects since earning his contract on Dana White’s Contenders Series. Torres has five wins in six fights, all by finish, all earning a bonus. While normally a powerful and deadly striker, he is also potent on the ground, boasting seven submission wins. Thus, his gameplan is simple: threaten the takedown to force his opponent to overcommit and expose his chin.
That well-roundedness may pose a problem for Fiziev, who has been mainly a striker with just a single submission win to his resume. The one thing he must do is clear: keep the fight away from the mat at all costs. After all, he is the superior striker with a technique that has been crafted through countless fights in Thailand.
The UFC’s choice of main event for its second trip in Baku is quite interesting, given what it could have booked instead.
Magomed Ankalaev and Khalil Rountree Jr. have not fought since losing on the same October night. With Alex Pereira off to heavyweight and Carlos Ulberg recuperating from ACL surgery, they could have used a five-rounder to prepare for a title shot.
It seems likelier, however, that they will get an interim title fight now that Jiri Prochazka has seemingly eliminated himself from contention. Hence, this headliner featuring a lower-ranked hometown hero against someone on the outside looking in.
Fiziev has had his fair share of high-profile and high-pressure fights throughout his combat sports career. Next month’s homecoming, however, may prove to be the most pivotal of all, as it will show what his ceiling truly is…
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