Sometimes, it’s not the defeat that defines a fighter — it’s the comeback.
At UFC Baku, under roaring home support, Rafael Fiziev reminded the world that his loss to Gaethje wasn’t a downfall… just a detour.
Facing the unranked but dangerous Ignacio Bahamondes, the No.11 lightweight couldn’t afford another misstep. Round one was cautious: Bahamondes took the center, switched stances constantly, and tested Fiziev’s timing. The Azerbaijani didn’t rush. He observed. Calculated.
Was this the same Fiziev… or a more evolved version?
Round two changed everything. Fiziev found his groove — strong takedown defense, two clean takedowns of his own, dominant ground control, and a sharp right hand to close the round. The chaos of his past was still there — but this time, it was under control.
The third round saw a mature Fiziev. Less reckless, more composed. He neutralized Bahamondes’ attempts, controlled distance, and once again landed a clean takedown to finish strong.
Unanimous decision: 30-27 across the board. No questions asked.
But does this win truly bring him back to the elite?
Against an unranked opponent, does this mark a resurrection — or just a sigh of relief?
Can Fiziev rise into the top 5 and stand among Makhachev, Poirier, Oliveira, or Chandler?
Will he adapt his high-risk, high-reward style… or will it continue to cost him in bigger fights?
Rafael Fiziev 🇦🇿 defeats Ignacio Bahamondes by unanimous decision! 🔥
Solid and composed performance by Fiziev in a thrilling night at #UFCBakuرافائيل فيزييف 🇦🇿 يتفوق على إجناسيو باهاموندز بقرار إجماعي! 🔥
أداء قوي وثابت من فيزييف أمام خصم عنيد في ليلة نارية بـ #UFCBaku! pic.twitter.com/eAISVAee2B— mmamag.ma (@jamalsoussi10) June 22, 2025
One thing is clear: the fire is still burning. But between Baku and championship gold, there’s a long, unforgiving road.
So, is the “Ataman” back to reign — or merely to endure?
