Rafael Fiziev will fight at home as part of the first ever UFC event in Azerbaijan this Saturday, which has him on a high heading into UFC Baku.
“I’m excited man. Fighting at home, in front of my people, in front of my fans, the people who most support me,” Fiziev (12-4) said during Wednesday’s UFC Baku media day. “I’m just so happy to be here and fighting.”
The fans in Azerbaijan have created a “good energy,” added Fiziev, calling it “good motivation” for him heading into his bout with Ignacio Bahamondes.
Fiziev will be looking to snap a three-fight skid in the bout, though two of those losses came to the same man, Justin Gaethje. The other saw Fiziev injured in a fight with Matuesz Gamrot, leading to a layoff of well over a year.
Bahamondes said earlier in the day that he wanted to put on a show in the fight, which was welcome news to Fiziev.
“Oh that’s good. That’s good,” the lightweight exclaimed. “I don’t have to care about— when only one guy in the cage wants to make a bonus, when only one guy in the cage wants to make beautiful fights, sometimes it’s a little hard to make a beautiful fight. Because maybe the other guy steps back, tries to be safe more. But when both guys want to make it, I’m just happy for that. So thank you for Ignacio for that. I hope he’s going to really do that, and follow through [on] his worlds.”
As for his losing streak, it doesn’t seem like Fiziev is focused on it much.
“The last three fights I did not get what I want, I did not get my goal. But a fight is a fight. I’m fighting all my life. I have just like, ‘oh, last three fights I lost,’ but it’s just next. For me it’s just next. I forget about the last three fights. And when I step into the cage, I don’t have time to think about the last three fights. I just have time to [think] about ‘how am I going to win [against] this guy?'”
Watch the full UFC Baku media day appearance with Rafael Fiziev above.
