Rafael Fiziev picked up the biggest win of his career and made the best statement possible after he knocked out former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos to cap off the UFC Vegas 58 main event.
Fiziev cruised through the first three rounds but it appeared he was starting to slow down after dos Anjos started forging a comeback in the fourth. That changed dramatically when Fiziev unleashed a brutal left hook that whipped dos Anjos’ head around and sent him crashing to the canvas.
Another punch to the ground by Mark Smith was enough to end the contest. Fiziev won the fight at 18 second into the fifth round.
“I want to say now we know who is the best Rafael in the UFC,” Fiziev said in celebration. We now know. “Now we know.
“Sean Shelby. I think you can give me something. Give me someone in this top five, I’m ready.”
Fiziev was calm and composed in his debut attempt to break into the lightweight ranks. He faced a veteran dos Anjos
.
Fiziev launched a series of kicks and was then hammering at dos Anjos with stinging, hard punches. Fiziev, while dos Anjos tried to slow down his strikes came at him with his kicks. However, he was still finding a place for his combos and also showing patience so he could go for 25 minute.
A stinging left hand from Fiziev late in the opening round saw him rattle dos Anjos briefly as the former lightweight champion staggered backwards for just a moment but more importantly it really made him wary about getting over aggressive in those striking exchanges. Fiziev was more agile on his feet but dos Anjos still landed hard kicks, and then he returned to the top with powerful punches.
When lightweights started trading, Fiziev found a place for the left hook dos Anjos couldn’t avoid. In return, dos Anjos turned to his grappling as he closed the distance and battled to get Fiziev down to the canvas.
Fiziev was a creditable fighter. He refused to be taken down despite the best efforts of dos Anjos.
Dos Anjos struck Fiziev hard with a left hand as the fight entered the fourth round. It was undoubtedly one of the best strikes that he had made all night. Fiziev’s output was also starting to slow down slightly but it turns out he was just saving his energy for a final surge in the last round.
Knowing that dos Anjos needed a finish to win the fight, Fiziev jumped right into the fire again and that’s when he threw another of those left hooks that kept paying off for him all night long. The devastating shot snapped dos Anjos head around on a swivel as he fell to the ground where he ate another shot before the referee could rescue him from further harm.
Fiziev’s knockout is the sixth win in six fights. But, it also puts him on track for a bigger fight which could lead to him being in contention for title. There will only be so many lightweights ahead of him in the rankings after dispatching dos Anjos in such impressive fashion as Fiziev will start targeting even best fighters in the world at 155 pounds when he books his next fight.
