{"id":6234,"date":"2025-06-23T01:55:59","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T00:55:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mmamag.ma\/en\/?p=6234"},"modified":"2025-06-23T22:01:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T21:01:23","slug":"rafael-fiziev-is-the-ataman-back-to-rule-or-just-to-survive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mmamag.ma\/en\/rafael-fiziev-is-the-ataman-back-to-rule-or-just-to-survive\/","title":{"rendered":"Rafael Fiziev: Is the \u201cAtaman\u201d Back to Rule\u2026 or Just to Survive?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes, it\u2019s not the defeat that defines a fighter \u2014 it\u2019s the comeback.
At UFC Baku<\/strong>, under roaring home support, Rafael Fiziev<\/strong> reminded the world that his loss to Gaethje wasn\u2019t a downfall\u2026 just a detour.<\/p>\n

Facing the unranked but dangerous Ignacio Bahamondes<\/strong>, the No.11 lightweight couldn\u2019t afford another misstep. Round one was cautious: Bahamondes took the center, switched stances constantly, and tested Fiziev\u2019s timing. The Azerbaijani didn\u2019t rush. He observed. Calculated.<\/p>\n

Was this the same Fiziev\u2026 or a more evolved version?<\/h3>\n

Round two changed everything. Fiziev found his groove \u2014 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 \u2014 but this time, it was under control.<\/p>\n

The third round saw a mature Fiziev. Less reckless, more composed. He neutralized Bahamondes\u2019 attempts, controlled distance, and once again landed a clean takedown to finish strong.
Unanimous decision: 30-27 across the board.<\/strong> No questions asked.<\/p>\n

But does this win truly bring him back to the elite?<\/h3>\n

Against an unranked opponent, does this mark a resurrection \u2014 or just a sigh of relief?
Can Fiziev rise into the top 5 and stand among Makhachev, Poirier, Oliveira, or Chandler?<\/strong>
Will he adapt his high-risk, high-reward style\u2026 or will it continue to cost him in bigger fights?<\/p>\n

\n

Rafael Fiziev \ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddff defeats Ignacio Bahamondes by unanimous decision! \ud83d\udd25
Solid and composed performance by Fiziev in a thrilling night at #UFCBaku<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u0631\u0627\u0641\u0627\u0626\u064a\u0644 \u0641\u064a\u0632\u064a\u064a\u0641 \ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddff \u064a\u062a\u0641\u0648\u0642 \u0639\u0644\u0649 \u0625\u062c\u0646\u0627\u0633\u064a\u0648 \u0628\u0627\u0647\u0627\u0645\u0648\u0646\u062f\u0632 \u0628\u0642\u0631\u0627\u0631 \u0625\u062c\u0645\u0627\u0639\u064a! \ud83d\udd25
\u0623\u062f\u0627\u0621 \u0642\u0648\u064a \u0648\u062b\u0627\u0628\u062a \u0645\u0646 \u0641\u064a\u0632\u064a\u064a\u0641 \u0623\u0645\u0627\u0645 \u062e\u0635\u0645 \u0639\u0646\u064a\u062f \u0641\u064a \u0644\u064a\u0644\u0629 \u0646\u0627\u0631\u064a\u0629 \u0628\u0640 #UFCBaku<\/a>! pic.twitter.com\/eAISVAee2B<\/a><\/p>\n

— mmamag.ma (@jamalsoussi10) June 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n