Rafael Fiziev Bio
Rafael Fiziev (born March 5, 1993) is an Azerbaijani professional mixed martial artist and Muay Thai fighter who competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is widely recognized for his explosive and technical Muay Thai striking, combining power, speed, and tactical acumen inside the cage. As of November 18, 2025, Fiziev is ranked number nine in the UFC lightweight rankings.
Trained extensively in Thailand and currently based in Phuket, Fiziev has built a reputation as one of the most dynamic strikers in the 155-pound division. He fights out of Tiger Muay Thai and represents Azerbaijan when he steps onto UFC canvas.
Early Life and Background
Rafael Fiziev was born in Korday, Kazakhstan, to an Azerbaijani father who worked as an undercover police officer and a Russian mother. When he was a child, his family moved to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where he spent much of his formative years. The multicultural environment of Central Asia shaped his early identity, and he later chose to represent Azerbaijan in professional competition.
As a child, Fiziev’s father bought him and his cousins a pair of boxing gloves and told them to spar. Initially, Fiziev did not enjoy the experience. Everything changed when he switched schools and began training in Muay Thai at the age of 11 after being bullied. He went on to study several other combat sports, including combat sambo, boxing, Jiu Jitsu, and wrestling, giving him a broad base before he transitioned to mixed martial arts.
Before fully committing to fighting, Fiziev worked as an undercover police officer, the same profession as his father. He eventually resigned after realizing the job would not allow him to reach the level he wanted in combat sports. As a young and poor Muay Thai fighter in Thailand, he often attended Buddhist temples to survive off bananas and pineapples.
Path to MMA
Fiziev’s competitive path began in Muay Thai, where he built a strong reputation across the Asian circuit. On April 29, 2016, he competed in the Toyota Marathon Tournament, defeating Ruslan Rybakov by decision in the quarter-finals before knocking out Phakhow Darbphong 191 in the semi-finals. In the final, he lost by decision to Sorgraw Petchyindee Academy.
He returned to the 2017 Toyota Marathon 154 lb tournament and again faced Sorgraw Petchyindee Academy in the final, this time after beating Detrit Sathian Gym by decision in the semi-final. Although he lost the rematch by decision, the bout went viral on social media because of an impressive lean-back defensive technique he displayed. On April 21, 2017, Fiziev earned a notable win when he knocked out former Lumpinee Stadium champion Yodpayak Sitsongpeenong in the second round at a Muay Xtreme event in Bangkok, Thailand.
Fiziev made his professional MMA debut in 2015 and fought in Asian regional promotions such as ROAD FC, as well as the American promotion Titan FC, before signing with the UFC. His earlier training at Phuket Top Team from 2015 to 2017, followed by a move to Tiger Muay Thai starting in 2017, gave him a strong foundation for the next stage of his career.
Rafael Fiziev Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Rafael Fiziev made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2015 and quickly built a record on the regional scene. He competed in Asian promotions such as ROAD FC and in the American promotion Titan FC, where he sharpened his skills against a variety of opponents. His Muay Thai background gave him a clear advantage on the feet, and he used that base to climb the lightweight ranks outside the UFC.
During this developmental period, Fiziev trained first at Phuket Top Team from 2015 to 2017 and then transitioned to Tiger Muay Thai beginning in 2017. The move to one of Thailand’s most respected gyms allowed him to refine his striking craft under experienced coaches, setting the stage for his eventual jump to the world’s largest MMA organization.
UFC Debut and Early UFC Run (2019–2021)
Fiziev made his promotional debut against Magomed Mustafaev on April 20, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 149, losing the fight by first-round technical knockout. He bounced back on October 26, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 20, defeating Alex White by unanimous decision. On July 19, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 172, Fiziev stepped in against Marc Diakiese and earned a unanimous decision win that also brought him his first Fight of the Night award.
On August 5, 2020, Fiziev announced on social media that he had signed a new four-fight contract with the UFC. He followed that up with a first-round TKO win over Renato Moicano at UFC 256, earning his first Performance of the Night bonus. In 2021, he outpointed Bobby Green at UFC 265 to claim another Fight of the Night award, and on December 4, 2021, he stopped Brad Riddell by knockout in round three at UFC on ESPN 31, picking up another Performance of the Night bonus.
Breakthrough Stretch and Top-Tier Bouts (2022–2023)
Fiziev’s rise to contender status continued into 2022. After a series of postponements to a bout with Rafael dos Anjos, the two finally met at UFC on ESPN 39 on July 9, 2022, where Fiziev scored a knockout win in round five. The performance earned him another Performance of the Night award and established him as a serious threat in the lightweight division.
On March 18, 2023, at UFC 286, Fiziev faced former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje in a back-and-forth battle that he lost by majority decision. The entertaining fight earned him a Fight of the Night bonus. Later that year, on September 23, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 228, he dropped a technical knockout loss to former KSW Lightweight and Featherweight Champion Mateusz Gamrot in round two because of a knee injury.
Recent Years and Kill Cliff FC Era (2025)
Fiziev was reportedly going to face Mateusz Gamrot in a rematch on February 1, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 250, though the bout was never officially scheduled for the event. Replacing an injured Dan Hooker, he instead faced Justin Gaethje in a rematch on March 8, 2025, at UFC 313, losing the fight by unanimous decision in another Fight of the Night performance. On June 21, 2025, at UFC on ABC 8, Fiziev got back in the win column with a unanimous decision victory over Ignacio Bahamondes.
Fiziev was scheduled to face Charles Oliveira in the main event on October 11, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 261, but he withdrew from the bout because of a knee injury and was replaced by Mateusz Gamrot. He continues to train out of Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket and represents the Kill Cliff FC team on the UFC roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Fiziev is known for his explosive and technical Muay Thai striking, shaped by years of training and later coaching at Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand. He fights from an orthodox stance but frequently switches stances mid-fight to control angles and adjust his power shots. His striking is built around crisp combinations, heavy body kicks, and fast counters, particularly when opponents overcommit or try to close distance.
Notable Events and Milestones
Fiziev became widely known after slipping a head kick with a motion that resembled the Matrix movie scene, a moment that went viral online. He has earned multiple Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses throughout his UFC run, and he reached the top ten of the official UFC lightweight rankings by late 2025.
Rafael Fiziev Career Wins
Rafael Fiziev has built a professional mixed martial arts record of 13 wins and 4 losses across 17 total bouts. His victories include finishes by knockout, submission, and decision, reflecting a well-rounded striking base sharpened by years of competitive Muay Thai.
UFC Highlights
Inside the UFC, Fiziev has earned signature wins over Marc Diakiese, Renato Moicano, Bobby Green, Brad Riddell, Rafael dos Anjos, and Ignacio Bahamondes. His first promotional victory came by unanimous decision over Alex White at UFC on ESPN+ 20, and his most recent win came by unanimous decision over Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC on ABC 8 on June 21, 2025. Several of these performances have been rewarded with Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night bonuses.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Fiziev competed in Asian regional promotions such as ROAD FC and the American promotion Titan FC, building the experience that led to his signing. In Muay Thai, he captured a notable win over former Lumpinee Stadium champion Yodpayak Sitsongpeenong by second-round knockout on April 21, 2017, and reached the final of the 2017 Toyota Marathon 154 lb tournament.
Rafael Fiziev Family
Family Background and Lineage
Rafael Fiziev was born to an Azerbaijani father who worked as an undercover police officer and a Russian mother. His father’s early gift of boxing gloves to him and his cousins sparked Fiziev’s first contact with combat sports. The multicultural family background, with roots in both Azerbaijan and Russia, shaped his upbringing in Central Asia before he eventually settled in Phuket, Thailand.
Personal Life
Outside of fighting, Fiziev enjoys blacksmithing with an emphasis on cold steel arms. In 2021, he revealed that he would no longer be representing his home country of Kyrgyzstan during his UFC bouts because of the country’s religious discrimination of Shia Muslims. He has since made Phuket, Thailand his primary residence and represents Azerbaijan when fighting.
2025 Season Performance
Rafael Fiziev’s 2025 campaign opened with a highly anticipated rematch against Justin Gaethje at UFC 313 on March 8, 2025, stepping in for an injured Dan Hooker. Although he lost the fight by unanimous decision, his performance was strong enough to earn another Fight of the Night bonus, reinforcing his reputation for fan-friendly bouts.
He returned to the win column on June 21, 2025, at UFC on ABC 8, taking a unanimous decision over Ignacio Bahamondes. The victory helped stabilize his position in the lightweight rankings and pushed him back into the official top ten, where he sits at number nine as of November 18, 2025.
Fiziev was then booked to face Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC Fight Night 261 on October 11, 2025, but a knee injury forced him to withdraw, and Mateusz Gamrot stepped in as a replacement. Despite the setback, his placement in the rankings and his history of memorable performances leave him well positioned for a strong return in the months ahead.