UFC 256: Rafael Fiziev gets first-round KO of Renato Moicano as Vegas pays dividends

Rafael Fiziev hit the jackpot on his first trip to fight in Las Vegas, landing a massive one-two combination that put Renato Moicano on his back with 4:05 gone in the first round of their lightweight clash at UFC 256.

The Thailand-based Kyrgyzstani (9-1) swooped in with an elbow crunch and the fight was called off immediately. While there was a little concern that the call came early from Moicano (14-4), the reality was that the Brazilian was certainly done for the night.

What was also made certain was the fact the 27-year-old Fiziev is a rising force in a stacked lightweight division – and the man himself knows that full well.

“I want to say to everyone in my division. Guys, train more, more hard, every day more wrestling, grappling, everything you can. I’m coming,” he told commentator Joe Rogan post-fight.

Fiziev’s work as a coach at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket has brought extended time around the likes of the UFC Russian bantamweight title-holder Petr Yan (15-1), and its Kyrgyzstani flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (20-3). Fiziev has mixed it with those stars, and the rising generation of UFC talent that has emerged from the gym over the past few years.

Little wonder people turn to “Ataman” for striking advice, in terms of both fists and feet, and proof positive of his skills was on show again Sunday.