Fiziev vs. Bahamondes: Who Comes Out on Top in This Potential Fight of the Night?
Azerbaijan’s star fighter, Rafael Fiziev, is making his highly anticipated return to the Octagon, headlining the first-ever UFC event in his home country, Azerbaijan. He’ll face a surging prospect in the Lightweight Division, Ignacio Bahamondes. Fiziev is coming off a tough loss to top contender Justin Gaethje and a lengthy layoff due to injury. Meanwhile, Bahamondes enters on a red-hot winning streak, including a dominant performance in his last bout against Jalin Turner. With both fighters known for their explosive striking, this ranked matchup promises fireworks. Let’s break down how these fighters stack up.
Rafael Fiziev
Fiziev is a battle-tested UFC veteran who, like Bahamondes, was once a rising, dangerous contender on a massive win streak. His greatest strength is his striking, particularly his powerful, technical kickboxing arsenal. While grappling isn’t his strongest area, Fiziev boasts an impressive 90 percent takedown defense, making him tough to drag to the mat. A key factor in this fight is Fiziev’s size disadvantage. He stands seven inches shorter with a three-inch reach disadvantage against Bahamondes. That makes distance striking risky, so Fiziev will need to fight smart, closing the gap, applying constant pressure, and keeping a tight guard to avoid getting picked apart at range. If he can get inside and turn this into a close-quarters battle, his speed and power could swing the fight in his favor.
Ignacio Bahamondes
Bahamondes enters this matchup on a three-fight winning streak, all by stoppage. Like Fiziev, he’s a dangerous striker with crisp kickboxing and legitimate knockout power. What makes Bahamondes especially dangerous is his size and length, which he uses well to control range and pick his opponents apart. While primarily a striker, Bahamondes is a bit more well-rounded than Fiziev, having shown glimpses of a solid ground game and submission ability. In this fight, his game plan should focus on maintaining distance — using long jabs, leg kicks, and body shots to wear Fiziev down. If Fiziev charges forward with aggression, Bahamondes would be wise to engage in clinches to slow him down, sap his cardio, and look for potential takedown opportunities or knees in the clinch.
Conclusion
This matchup has all the ingredients for a Fight of the Night contender. Both men typically look for finishes and bring dynamic, fan-friendly styles to the Octagon. For Fiziev, this fight carries added pressure. There’s been speculation about whether he’s a bit undersized for the Lightweight Division, and a loss here could increase the likelihood of a move down to Featherweight. While Fiziev holds a clear edge in big-fight experience, the size disadvantage and Bahamondes’s diverse offensive arsenal present serious challenges. This fight will come down to whether Fiziev can close the distance and turn it into a brawl or if Bahamondes can keep him at range and capitalize on his physical advantages. In the end, I see Bahamondes controlling the pace with his reach and strikes, eventually catching Fiziev as he charges forward.
