Rising UFC star Rafael Fiziev finished Rafael dos Anjos, issues bizarre call-out to tennis star Rafa Nadal

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12420157" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rafa-nadal" source="Orion">Rafa Nadal</keyword> better watch his back.</li><li><keyword id="14405453" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rafael-fiziev" source="Orion">Rafael Fiziev</keyword>, who collected the biggest <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> win of his career Saturday, wants Nadal next.</li></ul>LAS VEGAS — <keyword id="11897437" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tennis" source="Orion">Tennis</keyword> great Rafa Nadal better watch out.The 22-time Grand Slam winner was forced to withdraw this week from his Wimbledon semifinal against Nick Kyrgios because of an abdominal injury, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/62082405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to the BBC</a>.But the 36-year-old might have more concerning issues in the near future as he was on the receiving end of a fighter's call-out in the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a>.<div type="image" title="Rafael Fiziev challenges Rafa Nadal to a fist-fight." height="1388" width="2000" msid="92781991" hostid="261" sizebytes="151790"></div>Rising <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> star <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/rafael-fiziev" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rafael Fiziev</a> scored the most significant win of his entire career Saturday when he finished legendary lightweight fighter <keyword id="13318817" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rafael-dos-anjos" source="Orion">Rafael dos Anjos</keyword> in the fifth round of an event Insider attended at the Apex in Las Vegas.Having cleared one Rafa out from combat <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword>, Fiziev said he wants to dispose of another Rafa so that he himself can be known as the best Rafa in all sports."Now I want to say, we know who is the best Rafa in the UFC," <a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-videos-highlights-fiziev-finishes-dos-anjos-challenges-rafa-nadal-2022-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fiziev said in a post-fight victory speech you can watch here</a>."So now I want to challenge to find out who is the best Rafa in sport — Rafa Nadal! Come here!"<h2>Fiziev doesn't like that Nadal is 'named Rafael'</h2><div type="image" title="Rafael Nadal." height="1667" width="2500" msid="92781992" hostid="261" sizebytes="263754"></div>Speaking backstage after his win, Fiziev elaborated on the challenge when speaking to Insider."I hear about him a long time but I never see him in life, for real. Of course, everyone knows this guy," Fiziev told us.When we asked what Nadal had done to him to deserve a call out from him, Fiziev said: "He's named Rafael."He added: On how a UFC fight in an Octagon could be fairer for Nadal, Fiziev said the first, second, third, and fourth rounds could all be tennis. "Round five — <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword>."Fiziev then laughed.<div type="image" title="Rafael Nadal." height="1016" width="1585" msid="92781994" hostid="261" sizebytes="56676"></div>It's wildly unlikely Fiziev will ever fight Nadal.A likelier bout to transpire could be one involving Justin Gaethje, as Fiziev stared down media camera lenses during his post-fight press conferences to say how serious he is about competing against the American.Prior to his victory over dos Anjos, Fiziev was in 10th place in the UFC's lightweight rankings.Following the knockout victory, he could end up leapfrogging dos Anjos into seventh place, instead.

An up-and-coming UFC athlete has challenged Rafa Nadal to a fist-fight

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11928262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="conor-mcgregor" source="Orion">Conor McGregor</keyword> drinks, smokes, does drugs, and then goes on Twitter to talk nonsense.</li><li>That's the explosive claim made by up-and-coming <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> fighter <keyword id="14405453" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rafael-fiziev" source="Orion">Rafael Fiziev</keyword>.</li></ul>Up-and-coming <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> fighter Rafael Fiziev told Insider and other reporters the story behind his Twitter feud with combat <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> superstar <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/conor-mcgregor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor</a>.Fiziev, a Muay Thai fighter from Azerbaijan, is renowned for his distinctive style of striking that sees him evade shots like he's entering the Matrix.<a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> reporter Alex Behunin from Cageside Press posted a highlight package Tuesday in which Fiziev's defense was on full display.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1544484712592199680">July 6, 2022</a></blockquote>That same day, the former two-weight UFC champ <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1544517177620963331" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McGregor called the montage "awesome,"</a> however, he also offered constructive criticism."Change the roundhouse to an axe kick," the 33-year-old said. "Roundhouse into an axe kick, and this defense eats the full of the heel."I'm telling you," continued McGregor, "if their reaction to a high kick is this, implement the axe."<div type="image" title="Conor McGregor." height="1221" width="2000" msid="92755029" hostid="261" sizebytes="133684"></div>Fiziev responded by <a href="https://twitter.com/RafaelFiziev/status/1544580648681160709" target="_blank" rel="noopener">telling McGregor that he lives in a "fantasy land."</a>He invited the Irishman to his fight team Tiger Muay Thai so the two of them could throw kicks together.Fiziev even implied that McGregor might learn a thing or two.<div type="image" title="Rafael Fiziev." height="1333" width="2000" msid="92755030" hostid="261" sizebytes="93872"></div>Despite this, McGregor remained relatively civil, thanked Fiziev for the offer to join his fight team, and said: "When I am in Thailand, I will head here for sure!"However, he added: "You are yet to do anything significant in this sport."McGregor then wished Fiziev "luck" in his "upcoming fight" Saturday against Rafael dos Anjos at a UFC event in the Apex, Las Vegas.However, things took a dark turn when McGregor replied to another Fiziev comment. "Think of me as Tiger Woods with a 12 iron and your nose as the golf ball."<h2>Fiziev claimed McGregor 'maybe' does drugs before he tweets</h2><div type="image" title="Rafael Fiziev." height="724" width="1000" msid="92755031" hostid="261" sizebytes="23254"></div>Reporters asked Fiziev about the exchange during a media scrum at the Apex.Fiziev said McGregor likely drinks, smokes, and mimicked sniffing cocaine as if McGregor does drugs before he fires off his tweets. He provided no evidence for the claim.On the social media interaction, he said McGregor "started with saying 'respect,' but you know, I'm sure I'm respected by everybody, and I also respect Conor's big work for this business."But before he sleeps at night, he drinks first. Maybe he smokes and after maybe he like [does drugs]," Fiziev said as he made a snorting sound and wiped his finger along his nose.To Insider and other reporters, Fiziev continued: "Maybe he has one last drink of [McGregor's whiskey] Proper Twelve."Oh, he takes his phone, he starts talking shit, you know."<div type="image" title="Conor McGregor." height="1422" width="2000" msid="92755033" hostid="261" sizebytes="215032"></div>Fiziev finished by commenting that he hopes McGregor knows he does actually respect what he's done in the sport and for the sport."I say to everyone and to Conor directly, I don't disrespect him," he said."I respect this guy, invite him to Tiger Muay Thai, to our training camp, and to teach him how to kick and check kicks."It is unclear if McGregor will actually accept Fiziev's invitation.

An up-and-coming UFC fighter explains Conor McGregor rivalry after slamming him for living in a fantasy land

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="9602615" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rafael-fiziev">Rafael Fiziev</keyword> showcased defensive skills so brilliant in his win Sunday over <keyword id="9602616" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="marc-diakiese">Marc Diakiese</keyword> that he could have been mistaken for Neo out of the 1999 movie "The Matrix."</li><li>The third of the <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword>'s four events on "<keyword id="9060271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fight-island">Fight Island</keyword>" this month featured many stunning performances and knockouts.</li><li>But Fiziev and Diakiese's lightweight match was considered so good by the UFC that both fighters were awarded with a $50,000 check each.</li><li>Watch highlight clips of Fiziev's big win below.</li></ul>FIGHT ISLAND — Marc Diakiese and Rafael Fiziev collided for an all-out UFC war in the early hours of Sunday morning.The fighters were awarded with a bonus check of $50,000 each for producing the "Fight of the Night" at the behind-closed doors Flash Forum venue in a quarantined area of Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.It was a main card lightweight match, and one of the most entertaining scraps from <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/fight-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the "Fight Island" festival</a> so far.Statistically, there was little to separate Diakiese from Fiziev as the former landed 73 of his 153 strikes, compared to the latter's 82 strikes landed from 128.But the skills Fiziev showcased, together with the power he was able to dispatch from his leg kicks, appeared to win him a unanimous decision with scores of 30-28 and 29-28 (twice).One of Fiziev's skills included a cheat-code kick-dodge which would not have looked out of place in the popular dystopian science fiction movie "The Matrix."Watch it here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1284659359868497922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2020</a></blockquote>Fiziev's evasive maneuvering was so good, you would be forgiven for thinking it was a fluke — a one-off.However, he's actually pulled off the same stunt in a prior fight.See here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—ESPN MMA (@espnmma) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1284665174973022211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2020</a></blockquote>It wasn't just defensive skills Fiziev, a 27-year-old police officer from Kyrgizistan, showcased.He was also able to demonstrate just how effective he can be in attack, too, as he whipped the shinbone of his leg into the reddened rib-cage of his opponent time after time.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1284658547754766336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2020</a></blockquote><h2>Here is the official scorecard, as sent to Insider:</h2><div type="image" title="Diakiese vs. Fiziev scorecard, UFC" height="521" width="747" msid="77048788" hostid="261"></div>"I'm happy with the win … I'm happy for my second win in the UFC," Fiziev said after the fight. "I have a plan to break his heart, break his body, and show perfect technique, show what I know. I hope people like it."I hope I have no serious injuries and I hope before the new year I come back again," Fiziev finished.With the win, the Kyrgyz fighter advanced his fledgling record to eight wins (five knockouts, one submission, and two decisions) against one loss.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/video-deiveson-figueiredo-submits-joseph-benavidez-after-3-knockdowns-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3 knockdowns, 4 submission attempts: Deiveson Figueiredo bloodies, then chokes Joseph Benavidez unconscious</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-ariane-lipski-submits-luana-carolina-in-the-first-round-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A 26-year-old lived up to her 'Violence Queen' nickname as she beat her UFC opponent so bad, she had to be carried out of the arena</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-roman-dolidze-knocked-out-khadis-ibragimov-ufc-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An MMA fighter KO'd his opponent with a knee to the face, then hit him with 6 more punches when he was unconscious on the floor</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-photos-show-why-you-shouldnt-fight-grant-dawson-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A UFC photographer caught the precise moment Grant Dawson landed a painful knee strike in his 150-pound 'Fight Island' bout</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-amir-albazi-scored-rare-triangle-choke-on-ufc-debut-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A young submission specialist scored a rare triangle choke finish in the first round of his UFC 'Fight Island' match Saturday</a>

Marc Diakiese and Rafael Fiziev collided for an all-out 'Fight Island' war which included a cheat-code, kick-dodging, Matrix move

<ul class="summary-list"><li>It all went wrong for <keyword id="12528272" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="marc-diakiese" source="Orion">Marc Diakiese</keyword> during his <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> defeat Saturday to <keyword id="12528271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rafael-alves" source="Orion">Rafael Alves</keyword>.</li><li>He got kicked in the groin, hit with a flying knee, and submitted within two minutes.</li></ul>Marc Diakiese got kicked flush in the groin, hit with a flying knee, and submitted in a wild <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> fight that lasted less than two minutes Saturday inside the Apex facility in Las Vegas.The 28-year-old Diakiese entered the Octagon looking to rebound from his three-round decision loss to Rafael Fiziev last year, but suffered a more brutal beating against Alves this weekend.It looked like he was ready to knock Rafael Alves' block off when the introductions were being made on the preliminary card which was broadcast on ESPN+.Alves faked a fist bump moments after the opening bell and eventually kicked Diakiese where it hurts.The referee Mark Smith warned Alves, who improved his accuracy enough to start pumping heavy shots at Diakiese.Alves landed a left hook, a flying knee, and before Diakese could recover, he got tied up in a guillotine choke and lost the fight.Watch the finishing sequence right here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-ESPN <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword> (@espnmma) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1459593848460431366?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2021</a></blockquote>Victory advanced Alves' pro <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> record to 20 wins (seven knockouts, eight submissions, and five decisions) against 10 losses.Elsewhere on the card, Joel Alves destroyed Thiago Moises with elbows and punches, knockout artist Khaos Williams added another highlight to his reel against Miguel Baeza, and Felicia Spencer scored a late finish over Leah Letson.In the main event, Max Holloway eked a five-round war against Yair Rodriguez.

A UFC fighter got kicked flush in the groin, hit with a flying knee, and submitted in a wild 2 minutes

<ul class="summary-list"><li>An American fighter is trying to use <keyword id="11928262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="conor-mcgregor" source="Orion">Conor McGregor</keyword>'s name to rattle the Nurmagomedov family.</li><li><keyword id="13174287" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="brian-kelleher" source="Orion">Brian Kelleher</keyword>'s plan spectacularly backfired, though, as McGregor did not respond.</li></ul>American <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> fighter Brian Kelleher wants <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/conor-mcgregor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor</a> to work with him so he can seemingly try and antagonize the Nurmagomedov family.Kelleher fights <keyword id="13174288" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="umar-nurmagomedov" source="Orion">Umar Nurmagomedov</keyword> in a bantamweight match March 5 during the <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> 272 event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.Umar is a cousin of <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/khabib-nurmagomedov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khabib Nurmagomedov</a>, the former UFC lightweight champion who retired unbeaten in 2020 having beaten a who's who of elite <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> fighters like Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, and Conor McGregor.Khabib and McGregor shared a heated rivalry after the Irishman insulted the Dagestan wrestler's background, nationality, and family, long after Nurmagomedov submitted him with a neck crank in the fourth round."Hey, would you like to corner me in my next fight at UFC 272 against Khabib's cousin Umar?" <a href="https://twitter.com/brianboom135/status/1492594484680536066" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kelleher tweeted McGregor at the weekend</a>.Kelleher's plan to apparently manipulate McGregor's bad blood with the Nurmagomedov's to upset Umar spectacularly backfired.McGregor did not even respond, and Umar seemed unfazed at the prospect."It's not gonna help you, Brian," he said.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Umar Nurmagomedov (@UmarNmgdv) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1492892737208610816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2022</a></blockquote>Nurmagomedov and Kelleher compete on the main card of the 14-bout pay-per-view event that will be broadcast on ESPN next month.Elsewhere that night, Kevin Holland fights Alex Oliveira at welterweight, Edson Barboza fights Bryce Mitchell at featherweight, and Rafael dos Anjos fights Rafael Fiziev at lightweight.Former friends turned welterweight rivals Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal take part in a highly-anticipated main event.

You Searched For "rafael fiziev" and got 6 results

Rising UFC star Rafael Fiziev finished Rafael dos Anjos, issues bizarre call-out to tennis star Rafa Nadal

Alan Dawson

An up-and-coming UFC athlete has challenged Rafa Nadal to a fist-fight

Alan Dawson

An up-and-coming UFC fighter explains Conor McGregor rivalry after slamming him for living in a fantasy land

Alan Dawson

Marc Diakiese and Rafael Fiziev collided for an all-out 'Fight Island' war which included a cheat-code, kick-dodging, Matrix move

Alan Dawson

A UFC fighter got kicked flush in the groin, hit with a flying knee, and submitted in a wild 2 minutes

Alan Dawson

An American UFC fighter wants Conor McGregor to work with him to try and antagonize the Nurmagomedov family

Alan Dawson