Rafael Fiziev Makes Emotional Justin Gaethje Confession After Knockout Win at UFC Baku
As it appears, Justin Gaethje didn't just reclaim UFC gold when he defeated Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250; he gave another fighter a reason to believe again.
Fresh off his knockout victory over Manuel Torres in the UFC Baku main event, Rafael Fiziev admitted it was Gaethje's inspirational title run that restored his confidence after one of the toughest stretches of his career.
âThanks, Justin. My Manâ - Rafael Fiziev Credits Justin Gaethje for Emotional Comeback
Fiziev (14-5-0) could hardly have scripted a better homecoming. Competing in front of a roaring crowd at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, the Azerbaijani sensation bested surging lightweight Manuel Torres with a spectacular second-round knockout.
A spinning heel kick followed by a barrage of punches ended the contest and snapped a difficult run that had seen Fiziev lose four of his previous five fights.
But while the performance itself was vintage "Ataman," the inspiration behind it came from an unexpected source: Gaethje.
Speaking post-fight, the 33-year-old admitted that he had been battling self-doubt following recent setbacks, particularly after suffering a knockout defeat to Mauricio Ruffy earlier this year. However, watching Gaethje upset Topuria to capture the UFC lightweight title completely changed his mindset.
"Justin, man, bro, you have no idea how much you motivated me," Fiziev said. "I wish you jumped into my body and felt how much I love you after your performance, bro. You gave me a lot of motivation because I didn't believe in myself so much."
Justin Gaethje, Rafael Fiziev Have History with Each Other
In hindsight, the comments carry extra weight considering Gaethje is the very fighter who handed Fiziev two of those losses. Their first meeting in 2023 produced one of the year's best fights, with âThe Highlightâ edging him for a majority decision win again. When the two met again last year, Gaethje came out victorious once again.
However, rather than letting those setbacks define him, Fiziev chose to draw inspiration from watching his former rival climb back to the top.
"I was thinking, how can I believe in myself again after all of my stuff? It was so hard," Fiziev continued. "And this guy stepped in the cage and made me happy. When I stepped in the cage tonight, I believed in my power because of this guy. Thanks, Justin. My man."
That renewed confidence was evident against Torres (17-4-0). After surviving an aggressive opening round against the Mexican demolisher, Fiziev found his moment early in Round 2, producing his first knockout victory since 2022.
More importantly, it reminded both fans and the lightweight division that he remains one of the sport's most explosive strikers.
Rafael Fiziev Blasts UFC's New Rankings System after Statement Win
Despite returning to the winner's circle in emphatic fashion, Fiziev wasn't interested in celebrating the UFC's newly introduced Meta AI-powered rankings.
Asked about the updated system, which did not include him in the lightweight top 15 entering UFC Baku, he offered a brutally honest assessment.
"New rankings system is elephant s**t," Fiziev said bluntly during the post-fight media briefing. However, the omission clearly did little to shake his confidence. Instead, Fiziev pointed to the level of competition he has consistently faced throughout his UFC career.
"What message (to the division)? Everybody knows me. Everybody knows that I fight with the champion twice."
While Saturday's knockout immediately revived discussions about where he fits in the title picture, Fiziev wasn't ready to campaign for an unlikely championship opportunity. He acknowledged that he still has work to do before earning another crack at UFC gold.
"Oh, no, bro. I'm far away from the champion... I don't like talking about miracle stuff," he added when asked whether he deserved title consideration.
Could Rafael Fiziev Be in Play for BMF Championship?
Rather than targeting the lightweight championship, Fiziev suggested he could be an ideal candidate for the BMF title, later expressing interest in facing former champion Charles Oliveira, a matchup that was previously booked before injury forced him out.
For now, though, the biggest victory may not have been the highlight-reel finish itself. After months of frustration and questions surrounding his future, Fiziev rediscovered the confidence that once made him one of the division's most feared contenders. Ironically, it was the fighter who had twice beaten him that helped him find it again.
