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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC on ABC 8 results: Rafael Fiziev snaps three-fight skid vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
Rafael Fiziev was in desperate need of a victory at UFC on ABC 8, and he got the job done against Ignacio Bahamondes to snap a three-fight skid. Although his previous defeats came to the elite in Justin Gaethje twice and Mateusz Gamrot, it was an important moment for Fiziev (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who mixed up his striking and grappling well over three rounds against Bahamondes (17-6 MMA, 6-3 UFC) for the unanimous decision win with three 30-27 scorecards in the lightweight contest at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. The opening round was somewhat tentative, with Fiziev and Bahamondes both working to find their range and score something of significance. There were many kicks exchanged, and in between them some clean punches landed but nothing that appeared to hurt either athlete. Advertisement Bahamondes changed course to start the second round by shooting for an early takedown that was shut down by Fiziev. Bahamondes tried to push Fiziev into the cage but it was largely ineffective, but it opened up more striking opportunities when they got back to range. With a little more than a minute remaining Fiziev turned the tide and got two takedowns then landed a hard punch late that sent Bahamondes to his backside. With a chance to secure the win in the final round, Fiziev picked up his pace and started to land with more consistency. Bahamondes obliged to his desired range and more landed straight punches, his most effective blow of the fight, but Fiziev took them all well. Fiziev closed the fight strong with a final takedown and some ferocious punches on the mat. After getting his hand raised for the first time since July 2022, Fiziev expressed his desire to climb back up toward the top of the lightweight rankings. "I'm happy to represent my homeland here," Fiziev said through an interpreter in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. "I don't know (who is next). I'm a rocket man. You can send me to the moon." Up-to-the-minute UFC on ABC 8 results: This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Baku results: Rafael Fiziev snaps skid vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ABC 8 results: Rafael Fiziev snaps three-fight skid vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
Rafael Fiziev was in desperate need of a victory at UFC on ABC 8, and he got the job done against Ignacio Bahamondes to snap a three-fight skid. Although his previous defeats came to the elite in Justin Gaethje twice and Mateusz Gamrot, it was an important moment for Fiziev (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who mixed up his striking and grappling well over three rounds against Bahamondes (17-6 MMA, 6-3 UFC) for the unanimous decision win with three 30-27 scorecards in the lightweight contest at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. The opening round was somewhat tentative, with Fiziev and Bahamondes both working to find their range and score something of significance. There were many kicks exchanged, and in between them some clean punches landed but nothing that appeared to hurt either athlete. Bahamondes changed course to start the second round by shooting for an early takedown that was shut down by Fiziev. Bahamondes tried to push Fiziev into the cage but it was largely ineffective, but it opened up more striking opportunities when they got back to range. With a little more than a minute remaining Fiziev turned the tide and got two takedowns then landed a hard punch late that sent Bahamondes to his backside. With a chance to secure the win in the final round, Fiziev picked up his pace and started to land with more consistency. Bahamondes obliged to his desired range and more landed straight punches, his most effective blow of the fight, but Fiziev took them all well. Fiziev closed the fight strong with a final takedown and some ferocious punches on the mat. After getting his hand raised for the first time since July 2022, Fiziev expressed his desire to climb back up toward the top of the lightweight rankings. "I'm happy to represent my homeland here," Fiziev said through an interpreter in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. "I don't know (who is next). I'm a rocket man. You can send me to the moon." Up-to-the-minute UFC on ABC 8 results:
New York Post
13 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
UFC Baku predictions: Full card picks for Fight Night in Azerbaijan
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The UFC is on the trail to the Middle East. Just less than 500 miles away from Tehran, Iran, we'll have a highly entertaining UFC card with 12 fights on it. It's a crazy time to be a UFC fan, as we get the second loaded pay-per-view card of the month next week. UFC Baku comes at you early Saturday, beginning at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2, and the main card will go off at 3 p.m. ET on ABC. A massive audience is expected with six of the 12 fights projected to the distance, according to oddsmakers — although five of the first six fights are projected to do so, meaning it could be a slow start to the day. UFC Baku Azerbaijan predictions Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. In the heavyweight division, Jamahal 'Sweet Dreams' Hill faces off against Khalil Rountree Jr. with this fight now being lined as a pick 'em, according to most oddsmakers. On Wednesday, Hill was an underdog and among my best bets on the card. Frankly, he is still there for me, even if some of the value has evaporated as we approach the weekend. Hill is coming off two competitive losses. Rountree was beaten down last time out against Alex Pereira in one of the more brutal and violent displays we've seen in the octagon of late. Jamahal Hill works out for fans and media during the UFC Fight Night open workout at Dinamo Square on June 18, 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Zuffa LLC Rountree looked like a punching bag as he got to the third and fourth rounds of that fight. Looking at his schedule, his best wins are over Dustin Jacoby — a decision that I hated at the time and don't think he earned upon a re-watch — and a victory over now-retired Anthony Smith. Rountree isn't worth betting as a slight favorite, and Hill is the play this weekend. PICK: Jamahal Hill ML (-102, FanDuel) | by KO/TKO (+240, DraftKings) Rafael Fiziev is a master at landing body strikes. Getty Images Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes Coming off three straight losses, Rafael Fiziev faces Ignacio Bahamondes. Two strikers are coming into Saturday night's co-main event tilt, and it should be fascinating to see how Fiziev recovers after the beatdown he received at the hands of Justin Gaethje. When reviewing tape, though, I think Fiziev is a solid matchup for Bahamondes. Bahamondes is much taller, but kicks have seldom been an issue for Fiziev and his strikes to the body pose an imminent threat to Bahamondes as this fight pushes forward. Fiziev should be able to utilize kicks to the body and legs to immobilize Bahamondes a bit, and I have a tough time backing the favorite here considering his strength of schedule is far below that of Fiziev. Fiziev was once considered a title contender and just because he's not the same level of striker as Gathje, it doesn't mean he should be an underdog Saturday. PICK: Fiziev by decision (+260, FanDuel) Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps UFC full card picks Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.: Jamahal Hill ML (-102, FanDuel) | by KO/TKO (+240, DraftKings) Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes: Fiziev by decision (+260, FanDuel) Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev: Fight starts round 2 (-290, Fanatics Sportsbook) Tofiq Musayev vs. Myktybek Orolbai: Orolbai by KO/TKO (+500, Bet365) Nazim Sadykhov vs. Nikolas Motta: Sadykhov by decision (+370, FanDuel) Muhammad Naimov vs. Bogdan Grad: Fight ends by KO/TKO (+130, DraftKings) Seokhyeon Ko vs. Oban Elliott: Fight goes the distance (-116, FanDuel) Ismail Naurdiev vs. JunYong Park: Naurdiev ML (+165, Caesars Sportsbook) Daria Zhelezniakova vs. Melissa Mullins: Fight goes the distance (+120, BetMGM) Irina Alekseeva vs. Klaudia Sygula: Fight goes the distance (-125, BetRivers) Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Azat Maksum: Ulanbekov by decision (-110, Bet365) Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Mohammed Usman: Fight doesn't go the distance (+160, BetRivers) Why Trust New York Post Betting Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he's showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ABC 8
Rafael Fiziev and Ignacio Bahamondes meet Saturday in the co-main event of UFC on ABC 8 at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 5-1 UFC main cards, 2025: 57-44-1 Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes UFC Baku preview Fiziev (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) will look to end the roughest stretch of his pro career, as he comes in on a three-fight skid. While the results haven't been on his side, he's been extremely competitive, taking home Fight of the Night bonuses in two fights against Justin Gaethje. The other loss on this run was an unfortunate injury TKO loss against Mateusz Gamrot. Prior to those three fights, Fiziev racked up six straight wins, earning bonuses in five of them. ... Bahamondes (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) has been no stranger to extra checks on fight night. He comes in opposite of Fiziev, running hot on a three-fight winning streak, all by first-round finish. Not only did Bahamondes make quick work of Christo Giagos, Manuel Torres and Jalin Turner, he also earned Performance of the Night bonuses for each finish. Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes UFC Baku expert pick, prediction The co-main event on ABC features a striker's delight at lightweight between Rafael Fiziev and Ignacio Bahamondes. Although this seems like a tough spot for Fiziev, given that he's technically coming off three losses, his recent resume has more to it than meets the eye. Aside from one of his losses coming by injury, Fiziev had a quiet argument for winning his first encounter with Justin Gaethje before being booked for a senseless rematch on short notice with "The Highlight" after an extended layoff due to said injury. To Fiziev's credit, he showed noted efforts of improvement in his last fight with Gaethje from both pacing and grappling perspectives – which could come in handy against Bahamondes. I've been a big fan of Bahamondes and his improvements when it comes to both counterstriking and counter-grappling. That said, I'm not sure he can count on commanding the grappling exchanges with a national champion in combat sambo like Fiziev. I also suspect that Fiziev's speed, bodywork and ability to counter in combination will also provide problems for Bahamondes from a stylistic perspective. It's a dangerous fight for Fiziev, but I'll officially side with him to either stop Bahamondes with a body kick or beat him on the scorecards. Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes UFC Baku odds Despite the oddsmakers initially opening the Azerbaijan representative as the favorite, public money has flipped the betting line, listing Bahamondes -124 and Fiziev +102 via FanDuel. Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes UFC Baku start time, how to watch As the co-main event, Fiziev and Bahamondes are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 5:10 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rafael Fiziev has home-field advantage — and the pressure to go with it — at UFC's Azerbaijan event
When he was in his 20s, Rafael Fiziev was running in the tall clover. He'd won six straight fights (with five performance bonuses), and was building a head of steam toward a lightweight title shot when the UFC did him the courtesy of matching him against Justin Gaethje at UFC 286. With Gaethje having lost two of his last three, this was meant to be a catapult for Fiziev. A win would have thrown him into the upper reaches of the division. To borrow from the world of pro wrestling, it was the moment Fiziev was supposed to get over. Advertisement It didn't work out like that. Fiziev, who turned 30 just a week before that first Gaethje encounter, came away looking like the lone survivor of a slasher film. His face was a proverbial crimson mask. There were gashes above and under his eyes. His nose was purple. He found out firsthand what it means to visit the Gaethje wheelhouse, an experience he would reprise two years later at UFC 313, with a loss to Mateusz Gamrot sandwiched in between. Now at 32, he gets another crack at it when he fights Ignacio Bahamondes at Saturday's UFC on ABC event in Baku, Azerbaijan. It's his chance to build back up to where he was before all the trouble began. 'Yes, I left three fights,' Fiziev says. 'I lost that first fight with Justin. The second fight [against Gamrot], I have injury. I just hurt my knee, the ligaments in my knee, I couldn't do anything with this. My knee is done. Then the third fight with Justin is short notice, one week notice, because [before that] I cannot find the fighter who wants to fight me, who can say yes against me. 'So yeah, sad for the three losses, but this is not like somebody knocked me out three times. I have three [losses], I have two bonuses, and the fight with Gamrot, where I cannot do anything because my body just … ' Advertisement Here Fiziev can't help but shrug, as perhaps he better than anybody understands the chaotic elements of fighting. He can't make things in the rearview mirror appear closer to him than is altogether necessary. 'I understand,' he says. 'I am a strong guy. I have a good striking, I have a good wrestling, and I have a big heart. I really love this. I'm enjoying when I'm fighting and yeah, [these] three [losses] is nothing for me.' There was a time when Fiziev felt somewhat inevitable as a title contender at 155 pounds. The beating he put on Renato Moicano might've been the first to turn some heads, but the crisp boxing that overwhelmed Brad Riddell before a spinning wheel kick put him away felt like a declaration that Fiziev was coming. He was a perfect example of a fighter who blended superior technique with a brawler's mentality, which adds up to a fun viewing experience. Advertisement And he was taking it to Gaethje in that first fight, too. The fight was a back-and-forth war that ended in a majority decision in Gaethje's favor. Part of what has made Fiziev must-see TV is that at times he can throw caution to the wind, a feast or famine approach which has ultimately cost him on his recent slide. 'I have a big ego,' Fiziev says. 'I always want to show myself. I always want to show for myself and the beauty. And I love this business so much and I know when I watch a fight, I want to watch a good fight. I don't want a boring fight. I don't like when fighters stay [a] long time, and fighters don't risk so much. I don't like it so much when I watch those fights. 'So when I go to the cage, what I don't like I try avoid in my fights. And also, I love it. I just love it. When I go to the cage, I really love it. I've felt like that since 11 years old, and I think I have these bonuses and all of this, all the things people [are] saying, I think it's just because I have loved it. I really love it, and I want to show myself to people how much I love the fight.' If circumstances haven't exactly been on Fiziev's side since that first Gaethje encounter, that appears to be about to change this weekend on the UFC's first visit to Azerbaijan, the country Fiziev represents. Advertisement This is a tailor-made event for Fiziev, and it's a big one that's airing live on ABC in the U.S. As a kind of modern-day nomad who has spent time training at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Thailand, he was born in Kazakhstan and spent much of his childhood in Kyrgyzstan. This is a part of the world that wants to see a UFC belt of its own reflecting off the Caspian Sea. But the situation this time around is also a little different. Rafael Fiziev will have the crowd on his side at UFC on ABC in Azerbaijan, but pressure is mounting on him to move into a top contender spot. (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images) (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / Reuters) This time it's Fiziev who is in desperate need of a victory if he hopes to stay in proximity to that title. And it's the 27-year-old Bahamondes who arrives with the idea of stealing his capital as a contender. The crowd at the Baku Crystal Hall will be on Fiziev's side. Friends and family will be in attendance. The roof will come off the place if he starches Bahamondes the way he did Rafael Dos Anjos in his last victory. Advertisement There's a lot riding on a single fight, but then there always is. 'I'm really excited — I really like this because I'm going to fight front of my people in my homeland and all of my people can watch me live in real life,' Fiziev says. 'In Azerbaijan we have support for each other. We in Azerbaijan love to support each other and I can't wait to fight front of my people.' As for the pressure that comes with fighting in front of your countrymen? 'Many people, many families, friends, they want to meet me, they want to hang out with me,' he says. 'They want have some time with me, but I tell everybody like, 'Hey guys, look, I'm here on the fight. I have to stay in my room with my team, do what I have to do.' 'So no, no pressure, no pressure [from that] at all, because just being fighters comes with pressure. I just tell myself what I'm feeling, but I think many fighters do agree with me — we have pressure only about one thing: We don't want to lose. But all the other things, it's second, third, fourth. So I don't want a loss. I want to show a good fight and I don't want to lose.'
