Fiziev ends 1-4 slump with stunning wheel-kick knockout at UFC Baku

Rafael Fiziev snapped a miserable 1-4 run with a second-round knockout of Manuel Torres in the main event of UFC Baku, delivering one of the most eye-catching finishes of the year in front of a roaring home crowd in Azerbaijan.

The first round was competitive, with Torres giving Fiziev genuine problems and threatening to derail what was billed as a homecoming celebration. But the second round belonged entirely to Fiziev. He came out swinging — and spinning — landing a wheel kick that visibly stunned Torres before swarming him with heavy punches to seal the stoppage.

The finish drew immediate praise from fellow professionals across social media, with the consensus reaction captured neatly in one widely shared post: “Put his ass in the dirt.”

For Fiziev, the win carries significance beyond the highlight reel. After four losses in five fights, questions had begun to mount about whether the Azerbaijani-Kazakh striker could still compete at the top of the lightweight division. Saturday’s performance offered a forceful answer.

Fiziev has now indicated his next target is the “BMF” title rather than the undisputed lightweight belt, which is currently held by Justin Gaethje — a fighter Fiziev has already faced twice. Whether that path materialises will depend on matchmaking, but after a knockout of this quality, the UFC will have little reason to keep him waiting.