Rafael Fiziev stuns Manuel Torres with spinning heel kick TKO at UFC Baku
Rafael Fiziev snapped a four-fight skid at UFC Baku on Saturday, stopping surging lightweight Manuel Torres with a spinning heel kick and follow-up punches in the second round.
Fiziev, who entered the main event 1-4 in his last five UFC appearances, closed as a narrow favorite despite Torres carrying a perfect finishing rate through six UFC bouts. The Azerbaijani lightweight rewarded those odds at National Gymnastics Arena, landing a spinning kick that caught Torres on the side of the head and sent him stumbling into the fence. A flurry of punches finished the job.
First knockout finish in nearly four years for Fiziev
The stoppage marked Fiziev's first knockout win since 2022. MMA Mania described it as one of the best performances from the 31-year-old Thai boxer in his UFC tenure. Torres, who came in 5-1 under the promotion with five finishes, saw his momentum halted decisively.
Fiziev's rebound win keeps him relevant in a crowded lightweight top 15. Torres will regroup after absorbing the first knockout loss of his UFC run. No timetable has been set for either fighter's next outing.
Original reporting:
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