Two of the more exciting strikers in the UFC lightweight division squared off at UFC Baku on Saturday as Rafael Fiziev and Ignacio Bahamondes scrapped in co-main event.
#11 Fiziev (12-4) takes the co-main event slot in his father’s home country of Azerbaijan in the UFC’s first event there. After putting together an impressive 6-fight win streak with victories over the likes of Rafael dos Anjos, Brad Riddell, King Green and Renato Moicano his luck has soured.
He came into the Bahamondes fight on 3-fight skid with losses to Justin Gaethje and Mateusz Gamrot. The losses aren’t terrible with both Gaethje and Gamrot considered title contenders, but a loss to the up-and-coming Bahamondes would certainly bruise those title hopes.
Bahamondes (17-5) has put together a solid 6-2 record in the UFC and came into the bout on a three-fight win streak. An impressive submission victory over Jalin Turner at UFC 313 scored him the Fiziev fight in the co-main event at UFC Baku.
Round 1 Bahamondes worked to use that front kick to the lead leg to keep Fiziev at bay. Early on Bahamondes had trouble getting the range with Fiziev using kicks and rushing him a bit.
Near the 2 minute mark Bahamondes finally attacked causing a furious exchange where Fiziev landed most of the damage to the body. Both men changed stances repeatedly looking for an advantage.
Coming to the end of the round Bahamondes landed a spinning side kick to the body, Fiziev a right hand and Bahamondes tried an axe kick before time ran out.
Round 2 Bahamondes came out using his length with kicks and 1-2s. Then shot in for a takedown but Fiziev has solid takedown defense. Nothing came of it besides some fun elbows fired up by Bahamondes.
Another takedown attempt for Bahamondes produced nothing. Bahamondes got busy with the flashy spinning kick attacks which Fiziev avoided like he was in The Matrix. Fiziev worked some combos one which was countered by Bahamondes landing a head kick.
Fiziev had enough and flew in for a takedown and got it. Got back to his feet and worked some kicks to the legs before shooting and scoring a takedown again. Bahamondes seemed to grab a guillotine position but he quickly lost it.
The round ended with Fiziev dropping Bahamondes with a right hand at the horn.
Round 3 Bahamondes came out with the urgency firing off combinations and putting pressure on Fiziev. This entire fight Fiziev waited for Bahamondes to make a move and then countered which hasn’t worked well for his opponent.
Bahamondes put himself in danger to land and it began to pay off near the 3 minute mark landing two clean 1-2 combinations on Fiziev. Bahamondes shot in for a takedown, pulled guard instead, Fiziev didn’t comply. When Bahamondes stood up Fiziev fired off a nasty combo on him.
Bahamondes clinched Fiziev, pushed him to the fence looking for a takedown, but again just couldn’t get it. With Fiziev likely up 2-0 the time for wrestling may have already come and gone.
Fiziev had enough of the flurries and shot in for an easy takedown. The fight ended there on the ground.
Official Result: Rafael Fiziev def. Ignacio Bahamondes via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
