Can ‘Ataman’ Overcome a Tough Roadblock in His Lightweight Push at UFC 325?
Rafael Fiziev, otherwise known as ‘Ataman,’ has spent six years in the UFC and has attained a record of 13-4-0. A majority of these wins are from knockouts, too. His opponent, Mauricio Ruffy, has spent less time in the UFC but has a comparable record of 12-2-0. Both fighters will compete in the Men’s Lightweight Division with the opportunity to move in rankings, making this fight worthwhile to see! Title fights are excellent to watch, but fights like these really allow UFC fans to follow their favored fighters and gain familiarity with their journey along the way. A similar example would be the fight between Dan Hooker and Benoît Saint Denis, where the Men’s Lightweight Division will see another disruption from inside the Octagon.
If Rafael can cause a disruption, then he’ll stand to move up from his ninth position in the division! His fighting style includes using the switch stance, which could explain why his knockouts have been varied in placement. He has utilized both kicking and punching strikes to achieve a knockout, but has developed a solid defence strategy in his ground game. Moreover, he lands more strikes per minute than Mauricio. Specifically, Ruffy will have to gauge his takedowns carefully if he decides to go for a takedown. Considering these stats, Rafael is a balanced fighter for any opponent to face on their way up to vie for a title shot.
Mauricio could be that fighter, but if he is, it's likely he’ll capitalize on advantages such as his reach and height difference. He even has a shorter fight time and has made it known that his strikes, as punches or kicks, are just as powerful. Plus, he succeeded in knocking out King Green in Round One with a kick that surprised, perhaps, even King himself. His reach is his biggest advantage by far if he’s to achieve the same while fighting Rafael. It’s unlikely he’ll attempt a takedown as he has not yet succeeded in executing one during his time with the UFC. If he successfully lands one and then submits to Rafael, it would be a historical note in his fighting record!
That execution would undoubtedly be a shock that Rafael should prepare for. However, Rafael will use his tendency to strike faster and get in close to avoid Mauricio’s reach. ‘Ataman’ is dangerous to any opponent because he knows how to work the body while alternating his center line on his opponent. This makes him hard to hit for beginner and experienced fighters alike. Mauricio could maintain distance from Rafael while he attempts to get in close, and he should. If he doesn’t and decides to go for a takedown, it could wind up as wasted energy, as both fighters weigh the same. Moreover, he would have to get past an established ground defence that ‘Ataman’ has developed over the years he’s been in the UFC.
The fighter to win this fight is currently projected to be ‘Ataman’ because of the tendency to land more strikes in the three rounds he’ll have in the octagon with Mauricio. It’s likely the fight will go all three rounds, too, because of the experience both fighters have up to this point. They will not give ground easily, and winning by decision is typical when both fighters are even in techniques such as grappling or striking. The only way to know if the fight goes to a decision is to stream or watch the fight on ESPN at 9:00 p.m. EST for this main card bout!
