# Rafael Fiziev
**Rafael Fiziev** (born 1993) is a Kyrgyzstani-born professional mixed martial artist and former [Muay Thai](https://www.edgepedia.org/muay-thai) fighter who competes in the lightweight division of the [Ultimate Fighting Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/ultimate-fighting-championship) (UFC). Nicknamed "Ataman", he is known as a striker in a division built on wrestling, with a professional record of 14 wins and 5 losses, nine of those wins by knockout.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/rafael-fiziev?language_content_entity=en)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record | 14-5-0 professional; 8-5 in the UFC, all at lightweight[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/rafael-fiziev?language_content_entity=en) • [2](https://fightiq.net/fightiq-rankings/lightweight) |
| Finishes | 9 wins by knockout, 1 by submission (rear-naked choke), 6 first-round finishes[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/rafael-fiziev?language_content_entity=en) |
| Peak ranking | #6 at lightweight in October 2022; ranked #10–11 in late 2026[3](https://fightiq.net/fighter/rafael-fiziev) • [4](https://fightomic.com/rankings/lightweight/) • [1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/rafael-fiziev?language_content_entity=en) |
| Striking | 4.71 significant strikes landed per minute at 52% accuracy; 4.81 absorbed per minute with 50% striking defense[3](https://fightiq.net/fighter/rafael-fiziev) |
| Grappling | 1.00 takedown per 15 minutes at 71% accuracy; 90% takedown defense; 0.0 submission attempts per 15 minutes[3](https://fightiq.net/fighter/rafael-fiziev) |
| Bonuses | 7 post-fight bonuses: 4 Fight of the Night, 3 Performance of the Night[3](https://fightiq.net/fighter/rafael-fiziev) |
| Physical | 5'8", 155 lbs, 71–71.5" reach, switch stance[5](https://www.cbssports.com/ufc/fighter/50037201/rafael-fiziev/) • [6](https://the-box-score.com/ufc/fighters/rafael-fiziev) |
## Background
Fiziev was born in 1993. UFC lists his place of birth as [Kyrgyzstan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kyrgyzstan), while [CBS Sports](https://www.edgepedia.org/cbs-sports) lists [Kazakhstan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kazakhstan).[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/rafael-fiziev?language_content_entity=en) • [5](https://www.cbssports.com/ufc/fighter/50037201/rafael-fiziev/) Before fighting, he earned a law degree and worked as a police officer in the family business, but decided his path would be as a prizefighter, turning professional in MMA in 2015.[7](https://www.ufc.com.br/news/fiziev-let-everyone-know-theres-name-division)
His family connection to [Azerbaijan](https://www.edgepedia.org/azerbaijan) runs deep: his grandparents were expelled from the country when it was under Soviet rule, which made his June 2026 headlining booking in Baku, his first event on home soil, a personal occasion.[8](https://www.ufc.com/news/rafael-fiziev-back-put-things-right-ufc-baku) He has made his fighting home in Thailand, training alongside elite talent at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket.[9](https://www.ufc.com/news/rafael-fiziev-this-is-a-big-challenge-and-dream-fight-ufc-286)
## UFC career
Fiziev made his octagon debut on April 20, 2019, losing to [Magomed Mustafaev](https://www.edgepedia.org/magomed-mustafaev) by knockout. He then won his next six UFC bouts: decisions over Alex White (October 2019) and [Marc Diakiese](https://www.edgepedia.org/marc-diakiese) (July 2020), a knockout of [Renato Moicano](https://www.edgepedia.org/renato-moicano) at UFC 256 in December 2020, a unanimous decision over King Green at UFC 265 in August 2021, a knockout of Brad Riddell in December 2021, and a knockout of Rafael Dos Anjos in July 2022.[5](https://www.cbssports.com/ufc/fighter/50037201/rafael-fiziev/) That run carried him to his peak of #6 in the official lightweight rankings in October 2022.[3](https://fightiq.net/fighter/rafael-fiziev)
**The Gaethje fights.** In March 2023 at [UFC 286](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-286), Fiziev lost a majority decision to [Justin Gaethje](https://www.edgepedia.org/justin-gaethje) in a fight that earned a Fight of the Night bonus.[5](https://www.cbssports.com/ufc/fighter/50037201/rafael-fiziev/) The rematch came two years later at [UFC 313](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-313) on March 8, 2025, which Fiziev took on less than two weeks' notice after Dan Hooker's injury; he lost a unanimous decision, and the pair again shared a Fight of the Night bonus.[10](https://www.ufc.com/news/co-main-event-spotlight-rafael-fiziev-vs-ignacio-bahamondes-ufc-baku) • [11](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/cartelera-completa-del-ufc-313-combates-orden-y-horarios-mas-alla-del-pereira-vs-ankalaev-n/)
**Injury and rebuild.** Fiziev's September 2023 main event against [Mateusz Gamrot](https://www.edgepedia.org/mateusz-gamrot) ended at 2:03 of the second round when he lost by TKO to a knee injury sustained in the fight.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/rafael-fiziev?language_content_entity=en) He returned in June 2025 to outpoint Ignacio Bahamondes over three rounds in the co-main event of UFC's first Baku card, then lost to Mauricio Ruffy by strikes at 4:30 of round 2 at UFC 325 in Sydney on February 1, 2026.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/rafael-fiziev?language_content_entity=en) • [8](https://www.ufc.com/news/rafael-fiziev-back-put-things-right-ufc-baku)
**Baku headliner.** On June 27, 2026, Fiziev headlined UFC Fight Night at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku and knocked out [Manuel Torres](https://www.edgepedia.org/manuel-torres-fighter) 15 seconds into the second round, a [Performance](https://www.edgepedia.org/performance) of the Night-winning finish in front of his home crowd.[12](https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-fight-night-fiziev-vs-torres-results-highlights-interviews-main-card-baku) • [5](https://www.cbssports.com/ufc/fighter/50037201/rafael-fiziev/) The win moved him back into the rankings discussion, with independent rankings placing him between #10 and #12 at lightweight in late 2026.[4](https://fightomic.com/rankings/lightweight/) • [2](https://fightiq.net/fightiq-rankings/lightweight)
## Fighting style and statistics
Fiziev fights out of a switch stance with a Muay Thai base, and his significant-strike distribution reflects it: 40% to the head, 40% to the body, and 20% to the legs, the leg share being essentially kicks.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/rafael-fiziev?language_content_entity=en) • [6](https://the-box-score.com/ufc/fighters/rafael-fiziev) His career averages show a high-output striker who also absorbs a high volume, landing 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52% accuracy while taking 4.81 per minute with 50% striking defense.[3](https://fightiq.net/fighter/rafael-fiziev)
The grappling numbers frame his strengths and limits. He defends 90% of takedown attempts and lands only 1.00 takedown per 15 minutes at 71% accuracy, with no recorded submission attempts per 15 minutes.[3](https://fightiq.net/fighter/rafael-fiziev) His wins break down as 9 by knockout or technical knockout, 4 by decision, and 1 by submission, a 71% finish rate among his 14 wins.[6](https://the-box-score.com/ufc/fighters/rafael-fiziev) • [15](https://www.ufc.com/index.php/athlete/rafael-fiziev) • [16](https://migration.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-Brad-Riddell-vs-Rafael-Fiziev-183389) • [17](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/rafael-fiziev)
## Rankings and recognition
Fiziev has never held a UFC title and has never been ranked inside the top five, with his peak at #6 in October 2022.[3](https://fightiq.net/fighter/rafael-fiziev) As of the rankings published in October 2026, Fightomic placed him #11 at lightweight with 1768 points, while UFC.com listed him at #10.[4](https://fightomic.com/rankings/lightweight/) • [1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/rafael-fiziev?language_content_entity=en) Independent systems diverge more widely: Fight Matrix ranked him 26th among lightweights overall (11th among UFC-affiliated fighters), and HonestElo placed him #21 with a rating of 1553 ±40.[13](https://www.fightmatrix.com/mma-ranks/lightweight/?PageNum=2&RF=R_ELOK170) • [14](https://honestelo.com/fighter/rafael-fiziev)
His bonus record is a defining feature of his profile. FightIQ counts 7 post-fight bonuses, 4 Fight of the Night and 3 Performance of the Night, earned across bouts including the two Gaethje fights, the Dos Anjos knockout, and the Riddell and Moicano finishes.[3](https://fightiq.net/fighter/rafael-fiziev) • [5](https://www.cbssports.com/ufc/fighter/50037201/rafael-fiziev/)
## References
1. [Rafael Fiziev, UFC.com athlete profile](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/rafael-fiziev?language_content_entity=en)
2. [FightIQ Lightweight Rankings](https://fightiq.net/fightiq-rankings/lightweight)
3. [Rafael Fiziev, record and tale of the tape, FightIQ](https://fightiq.net/fighter/rafael-fiziev)
4. [Lightweight Rankings, Fightomic](https://fightomic.com/rankings/lightweight/)
5. [Rafael Fiziev, UFC record, stats and profile, CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/ufc/fighter/50037201/rafael-fiziev/)
6. [Rafael Fiziev, UFC skill ratings and tale of the tape, The Box Score](https://the-box-score.com/ufc/fighters/rafael-fiziev)
7. [Fiziev To Let Everyone Know There's A Name In The Division, UFC.com.br](https://www.ufc.com.br/news/fiziev-let-everyone-know-theres-name-division)
8. [Rafael Fiziev Is Back To Put Things Right, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/rafael-fiziev-back-put-things-right-ufc-baku)
9. [Rafael Fiziev: 'This Is A Big Challenge And Dream Fight', UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/rafael-fiziev-this-is-a-big-challenge-and-dream-fight-ufc-286)
10. [Co-Main Event Spotlight: Rafael Fiziev vs Ignacio Bahamondes, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/co-main-event-spotlight-rafael-fiziev-vs-ignacio-bahamondes-ufc-baku)
11. [Cartelera completa del UFC 313, Diario AS](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/cartelera-completa-del-ufc-313-combates-orden-y-horarios-mas-alla-del-pereira-vs-ankalaev-n/)
12. [UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Torres Results, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-fight-night-fiziev-vs-torres-results-highlights-interviews-main-card-baku)
13. [Lightweight rankings, Fight Matrix](https://www.fightmatrix.com/mma-ranks/lightweight/?PageNum=2&RF=R_ELOK170)
14. [Rafael Fiziev, HonestElo fighter profile](https://honestelo.com/fighter/rafael-fiziev)
15. [Rafael Fiziev, UFC](https://www.ufc.com/index.php/athlete/rafael-fiziev)
16. [By The Numbers: Brad Riddell vs. Rafael Fiziev](https://migration.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-Brad-Riddell-vs-Rafael-Fiziev-183389)
17. [Rafael Fiziev, UFC](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/rafael-fiziev)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Mixed martial arts › Lightweight fighters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license