Rafael Fiziev reminded the lightweight division why he remains one of its most dangerous strikers after delivering a highlight-reel finish against Manuel Torres in the main event of UFC Baku on Saturday at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Fighting in front of his home crowd, Fiziev earned his first knockout victory in nearly four years with a second-round TKO, snapping his recent struggles in emphatic fashion.
Fiziev gets a much needed win
Entering the event, Fiziev had dropped four of his previous five UFC fights. Despite that stretch, oddsmakers still favored the Azerbaijani standout over the fast-rising Torres, who entered the bout with a 5-1 UFC record and had finished every opponent he defeated inside the promotion.
Torres came into the fight carrying plenty of momentum, but Fiziev quickly showed that experience against elite competition still carries significant value. He stayed composed throughout the contest and gradually took control with his trademark speed and precision on the feet.
Spinning heel kick ends Torres’ momentum
The finish arrived in the second round. Fiziev uncorked a spinning heel kick that caught Torres on the side of the head. While Torres managed to get part of his guard up, the strike still rocked him badly and sent him stumbling backward into the fence.
Sensing the opening, Fiziev rushed forward with a barrage of punches. The follow-up attack overwhelmed Torres and forced the referee to stop the contest, giving Fiziev one of the most memorable finishes of his UFC career.
The victory marks Fiziev’s first knockout since 2022 and serves as a major statement in the lightweight division. It also halted Torres’ impressive run and showed that the veteran contender remains a serious threat against anyone at 155 pounds.