Rafael Fiziev has emerged in recent years as one of the most entertaining hunters on the UFC selection.
'Ataman' has a ridiculous highlights with Fiziev's running wheels from Brad Riddell to put it on the map as a lightweight competition.
Fiziev's victory over Rafael Dos Anjos proved that he could be a potential title champion and although he was perhaps in his both fights with Justin Gaethje, they were incredible to watch.
The Dynamic Striker will return to UFC Baku on 21 June, where he is confronted with one of the frightening finishers of the lightweight division in Ignacio Bahamondes.
When the 32-year-old fought against another flashy striker, he set up a star performance that is reminded for a moment that the jaws left on the floor.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Rafael Fiziev earned Neo from 'The Matrix' -comparisons when he dropped the main kick of Mark Diakiese in style
After having had a loss for Magomed Mustafaev during his UFC debut, Rafael Fiziev bounced back with a victory over Alex White in October 2019 before returning to the Octagon in July.
Before the second trip from the UFC to 'Fight Island' in Abu Dhabi, he stood opposite English Marc Diakiese, who at the time had the reputation for producing highlight moments with his creative striking.
Fiziev came at the top with all three jury members who scored the fight in his favor for a unanimous decision gain where his completely striking arsenal could be seen.
However, it was not only the attacking possibilities of 'Ataman' who attracted attention with a moment in the second round and became the viral moment of this matchup.
Fiziev had already earned a reputation during his time in striking sports because of his incredible ability to bend backwards in the waist to slip out of the way from oncoming head kicks.
He did exactly that to Diakiese, which led UFC commentator John Gooden to compare Fiziev with the character of Keanu Reeves in 'The Matrix', referring to the iconic scene where 'Neo' bullets avoids in Slow-Motion.
“There he is, it is Neo out of the matrix again. He did it in kickboxing, he has now done it in the UFC. Incredible.”
Gooden's colleague commentator, Paul Felder, joked that he would not even be able to try that kind of maneuver, even if he wanted to.
“The flexibility. My entire back would have been broken there, my hips would have been disrupted.”
Ignacio Bahamonds is one of the few UFC hunters who can match Rafael Fiziev's Highlight Reel Striking
He can bring a different style to the octagon than Rafael Fiziev's thundering Muay Thai explosiveness, but Ignacio Bahamondes is also an incredibly impressive striker.
His rotating wheel shovel Knock -out of the year candidate against Roosevelt Roberts in 2021 'La Jaula' earned his first victory in the Octagon.
In his last outing, Bahamonde's was able to show another side to his game, which proved that he was just as dangerous on the floor with a triangle stick against Jalin Turner.
The Co-Main event on 21 June promises to be a battle between two of the most dynamic contenders in the lightweight division, if not the UFC as a whole.