“Waiting for the next one” is where Rafael Fiziev is at, after picking up an important win at home in Azerbaijan.
Lightweight Fiziev (13-4) returned to the win column for the first time since 2022 with a unanimous decision victory over Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC Baku last month. The card was the promotion’s debut in Fiziev’s native Azerbaijan.
“Win is win, it’s always good. Last couple years, I had three losses, I missed that feeling,” he told Cageside Press in an exclusive interview. “Having a win in my home, in my land, in my city, that’s more than I can wish. So good.”
It wasn’t just three losses, but injuries also weighing on Fiziev. That was a rocky road for the talented lightweight, one that was hard to contend with. “It’s my life. Because I love fighting. I’ve fought since 11 years old. For me, this life, I don’t see myself in other ways. I just know, okay, now I have injuries, now I have a bad time, but I will heal, I will come back.”
In particular, Fiziev maintained his faith in his abilities. “I believe in my power. I can be a top five, I can be a champion, I can fight with top guys and I can give them a good fight, and I’m not an easy guy. I always know that. If we can say this motivated me, this is my motivation.”
While Fiziev had floated the idea of a move to 145lbs, especially after coming in low for his second fight with Justin Gaethje, it appears featherweight is off the table. “Now I gained my weight more, my muscles’ come back. With a good camp, I have big muscles. I cannot go to 145, so 155 for me, it’s a good one.”
What’s up next is a question. He was once booked against Dan Hooker, which is a fight he’d gladly accept again. “I don’t think he’s agreed for this fight now,” noted Fiziev, indicating the fight may not materialize any time soon. There are other names, however. “Now [Beneil] Dariush has come back to the win [column],” he pointed out. At the same time, Fiziev isn’t eager to call out any names, because they rarely agree to fight him.
“In my career, I count only one guy who says yes. Two guys, maybe. First one is [Rafael] dos Anjos, and second one is [Justin] Gaethje. I called them both and they said ‘yes, let’s do this fight.’ But other guys, it’s always like, I called somebody, but UFC gives me some different guy. I called Dan Hooker, I’m ready to fight him if he’s ready. Dariush. I don’t know who doesn’t have a fight now. Gamrot. Who’s ready to fight? If UFC gives me somebody, I’m happy to fight with them. But I can’t say now, some names, like ‘aww I want to fight this guy.'”
“[Mateusz] Gamrot last time he said yes, then after a few days he started to call out Paddy Pimblett. Like ‘hey Paddy let’s fight,'” added Fiziev. “This business sometimes, [you’re] going crazy.”
Still, with luck we’ll be seeing Rafael Fiziev back in action by the end of the year.
