Rafael Fiziev puts lightweights on notice with 5th-round TKO of ex-champion Rafael dos Anjos
LAS VEGAS — The listing of contenders within the light-weight division retains rising. The newest to ascertain himself as a bona fide contender is Rafael Fiziev, who knocked out ex-champion Rafael dos Anjos 18 seconds into the ultimate spherical Saturday at Apex in the principle occasion of UFC Vegas 58.
The subsequent step for him, Fiziev stated, is to find out who the most effective Rafael is. So, after all, when requested within the Octagon who he needs subsequent, he known as out tennis famous person Rafael Nadal.
If Nadal noticed his struggle with dos Anjos, he’d be smart to remain as distant from Fiziev as potential. Fiziev is a adorned Muay Thai kickboxer, however he confirmed the whole sport on Saturday.
Dos Anjos tried an astonishingly excessive 16 takedowns over the four-plus rounds, finishing two. When a man who strikes in addition to Fiziev can may defend takedowns and maintain the struggle standing, he’s an issue.
And yeah, Fiziev is an issue for the remainder of the lightweights.
He’s acquired quick palms, correct punches and, as he confirmed when he completed the struggle, loads of energy in each palms. He caught dos Anjos with a crushing left that, for all intents and functions, ended the struggle.
Fiziev went after him on the bottom and landed a few flush pictures, forcing referee Mark Smith to leap in to halt it.
“I used to be drained a lot within the struggle, however I made a end in Spherical 5,” stated Fiziev, who known as out No. 3-ranked Justin Gaethje. “Which means one thing. [It proves] I can struggle 5 rounds.”
Fiziev largely neutralized dos Anjos’ offense all through the struggle. Dos Anjos tried to sluggish the bout down, clinching with Fiziev on the cage and going for takedowns. However Fiziev’s takedown protection was sensible and he repeatedly pissed off dos Anjos.
After they have been in house, Fiziev’s hanging was on level and he was selecting dos Anjos aside with sharp and clear pictures.
Fiziev by no means allowed dos Anjos to achieve momentum and was racking up factors along with his hanging.
Fiziev famous it was necessary to be endurance as dos Anjos was preventing for the takedowns and to not attempt to get forward of himself.
“My head, my mind is silly typically and I begin to struggle like a drunken man,” Fiziev stated of the need of remaining affected person. “I believed loads and fought good. I didn’t attempt to go loopy an excessive amount of.”
The victory was Fiziev’s twelfth in 13 professional fights and his sixth in succession within the UFC after a first-round TKO loss in his promotional debut in 2019 to Magomed Mustafaev in St. Petersburg, Russia.
However he’s now defeated dos Anjos, Brad Riddell, Bobby Inexperienced, Renato Moicano, Marc Diakiese and Alex White — a strong group of opponents — in his successful streak.
He entered Saturday’s bout ranked tenth within the division, however the division is loaded with killers and it might be arduous for Fiziev to maneuver up a lot. Dos Anjos was seventh, Mateusz Gamrot was eighth and Tony Ferguson ninth forward of Fiziev going into the struggle.
Gamrot is coming off of a formidable victory over Arman Tsarukyan and UFC president Dana White advised Yahoo Sports activities that he’s keen on pitting Gamrot with No. 6 Beneil Dariush.
Fiziev known as for a high 5 opponent, however that’s going to be arduous given the lineup there: Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, Gaethje, Islam Makhachev and Michael Chandler.
Oliveira is gunning for a struggle with No. 12 Conor McGregor, although the UFC is keen on pitting him towards Makhachev for the vacant title. Poirier and Chandler appear headed for a showdown, notably after their confrontation at UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
So Fiziev might need to accept both a struggle with Ferguson or a match with Tsarukyan, both of which might be extremely entertaining. He’s going to need to maintain successful — and successful impressively — given the loaded nature of the division.
However he’s been doing simply that. He’s now completed three of his final 4 fights, with solely his bout towards Inexperienced going to the playing cards. He was sensible in that one, outboxing Inexperienced in an enormous manner.
Gamrot additionally known as out Gaethje, however with White’s intent to pair him with Dariush, it might give Fiziev the bout he needs. And he is aware of it could be enjoyable.
“I believe he’d make my face appear like this, possibly [worse],” stated Fiziev, who stated he broke his nostril early within the struggle. “He’s harmful. He’s an enormous problem for me, additionally. He has an opportunity to knock me out, however I’d have an opportunity to knock him out. That’s a superb struggle, I believe, and for the followers, additionally.”
