LAS VEGAS — The list of contenders in the lightweight division continues to grow. The latest to establish himself as a bona fide contender is Rafael Fiziev, who knocked out former champion Rafael dos Anjos 18 seconds into the final round on Saturday at Apex in the UFC Vegas 58 main event. The next step for him, Fiziev said, is to determine who the best Rafael is. So naturally, when asked in the Octagon who he wants next, he called out tennis superstar Rafael Nadal. If Nadal were to watch his match with dos Anjos, he would be wise to stay as far away from Fiziev as possible. Fiziev is a decorated Muay Thai kickboxer, but he showed his full game on Saturday. Dos Anjos attempted a staggering 16 takedowns in the four-plus rounds, finishing two. When a guy who hits as well as Fiziev can also defend takedowns and keep the fight standing, it’s a problem. And yes, Fiziev is a problem for the rest of the lightweights. He has quick hands, accurate punches and, as he showed when he finished the fight, plenty of power in both hands. He caught dos Anjos with a crushing left that, for all intents and purposes, ended the fight. Fiziev followed him to the ground and landed a couple of flush shots, forcing referee Mark Smith to jump in to stop it. “I was so tired in the match, but I finished in Round 5,” said Fiziev, who invited No. 3-ranked Justin Gaethje. “That means something. [It proves] I can fight five rounds.” Fiziev largely neutralized dos Anjos’ offense throughout the fight. Dos Anjos tried to slow the fight down, bracing Fiziev against the cage and going for a takedown. But Fiziev’s takedown defense was outstanding and he repeatedly frustrated dos Anjos. When they were in the gap, Fiziev’s striking was on point and he picked dos Anjos apart with sharp and clean shots. Fiziev never allowed dos Anjos to gain momentum and was racking up points with his jab. Fiziev noted that it was important to be patient as dos Anjos fought for takedowns and not try to outdo himself. The story continues “My head, my brain is stupid sometimes and I start fighting like a drunk guy,” Fizieff said of the need to remain patient. “I thought hard and fought smart. I didn’t try to get too crazy.” A vicious left hand sent Rafael dos Anjos to the ground where Rafael Fiziev quickly ended the fight. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) The win was Fiziev’s 12th in 13 professional fights and his sixth in a row in the UFC after a first-round TKO loss in his 2019 promotional debut to Magomed Mustafaev in St. Petersburg, Russia. But he has now defeated dos Anjos, Brad Riddell, Bobby Green, Renato Moicano, Marc Diakiese and Alex White – a formidable group of opponents – in his winning streak. He entered Saturday’s race ranked 10th in the division, but the division is full of killers and it may be difficult for Fiziev to move up much. Dos Anjos was seventh, Mateusz Gamrot was eighth and Tony Ferguson ninth ahead of Fiziev entering the race. Gamrot is coming off an impressive win over Arman Tsarukyan, and UFC president Dana White told Yahoo Sports that he is interested in pitting Gamrot against No. 6 Beneil Dariush. Fiziev asked for a top-five opponent, but that will be difficult given the line-up there: Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, Gaethje, Islam Makhachev and Michael Chandler. Oliveira is gunning for a fight with No. 12 Conor McGregor, although the UFC is interested in pitting him against Makhachev for the vacant title. Poirier and Chandler appear to be headed for a showdown, especially after their fight at UFC 276 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. So Fiziev may have to settle for either a Ferguson fight or a Tsarukyan fight, either of which would be highly entertaining. He should continue to win – and win impressively – given the loaded nature of the division. But he did just that. He has now finished three of his last four fights, with only his fight against Green going on the cards. He was brilliant at it, far surpassing Green. Gamrot also called Gaethje, but with White intent on pairing him with Dariush, he can give Fiziev the fight he wants. And he knows it would be fun. “I think it would make my face look like that, maybe [worse]” said Fizieff, who said he broke his nose early in the match. “He is dangerous. It is also a big challenge for me. He has a chance to knock me out, but I would have a chance to knock him out. This is a good fight, I think, and for the fans too.”
