UFC on ESPN 31 video: Rafael Fiziev’s slick wheel kick leads to TKO of Brad Riddell

Mike Bohn
·2 min read

The matchup of former training partners and friends went the way of Rafael Fiziev on Saturday with a win over Brad Riddell in the UFC on ESPN 31 co-main event.

After spending time training together in Thailand roughly four years ago, the streaking lightweights were paired up to see who would take the next step forward in the bout, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

It was competitive up until the finish, when Fiziev (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) uncorked a slick wheel kick that rocked Riddell (10-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and led to the TKO at the 2:20 mark of Round 3.

Check out the highlight of the finish below (via Twitter):

The first round went as expected. Fiziev and Riddell stood in front of each other and produced tactical striking. They traded punches and kicks, but the familiarity between the two was clear as they both avoided any big shots. Fiziev was on point with his counters, tagging Riddell on his exits.

It was more of the same in Round 2, as it was all striking from beginning to end. Fiziev landed a nasty elbow in the early stages of the round that opened a gnarly cut around Riddell’s left eye. Riddell maintained his focus and turned up the output in response, but Fiziev controlled the pace of the fight and remained consistent with his offense.

The cageside doctor took a close look at Riddell’s eye between rounds, and threatened to stop it if is got any worse.

Riddell was clearly aware of that danger, as he shot for a takedown early in Round 3. He briefly got Fiziev to the ground, but Fiziev scrambled up to his feet and it was right back to the striking exchanges. The fight was going down the wire when Fiziev landed the 13th wheel kick finish in UFC history.

“I love him – I learn from him,” Fiziev said of Riddell in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. “I wait (for this strike) – I wait three rounds. I not turn because I know when he goes this way his hands go down and he forget about spinning back kicks.”

Ridell was stopped by strikes for the first time in MMA competition with the defeat, while Fiziev has now won five straight, which is good for the fourth longest active winning streak at 155 pounds behind Charles Oliveira (nine), Islam Makhachev (nine) and Beneil Dariush (seven).

Up-to-date UFC on ESPN 31 results include:

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UFC on ESPN 31 play-by-play and live results

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