For many fighters, the toughest battles are in the cage, but for Rafael Fiziev, the fight began with a cross-continental move and a heritage split between Azerbaijan and Russia.

As a little kid with a humble financial background, Fiziev faced bullying, not severe, but enough for him to search for confidence and control. At the age of 11, he found a local Muay Thai gym, which worked as an escape and also shaped discipline in him.

Who are Rafael Fiziev’s parents?

Rafael Fiziev was born to an Azerbaijani father, who worked as an undercover police officer, and a Russian mother, whose identity has largely remained private. Amid tight financial conditions, it was his father, Salman Fiziev, who placed the gloves in his hands, a small gesture that carried heavy meaning.

While Fiziev found interest in Muay Thai, which would later define his UFC style. At the same time, it is to be noted that he trained in much more than just Muay Thai. Growing up, he also trained in combat sambo, boxing, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling, which helped his transition into MMA. Fiziev later admitted that adapting to grappling was the toughest challenge, both physically and mentally. He began his combat sports journey alongside his siblings, whose shared experience forged a bond of discipline and drive in his early years.

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Fiziev is currently an instructor at Tiger Muay Thai. He takes part in gym-led charity workouts, community classes, and training events curated for aspiring fighters with inconsistent financial stability. His way of giving back to the community is not for public recognition. He keeps a low profile, reportedly making informal contributions and quietly backing grassroots martial arts programs in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. For Fiziev, real-world impact matters more than headlines.

What is the ethnicity of Rafael Fiziev’s parents? 

Rafael Fiziev comes from a multicultural background. He was born in Korday, Kazakhstan, to an Azerbaijani father and a Russian mother, a heritage that exposed him to multiple languages and regional cultures from childhood. Although born in Kazakhstan and raised largely in Kyrgyzstan, Fiziev later adopted the Azerbaijani nationality and has competed under the Azerbaijan flag, reflecting his paternal roots. Inspired by his father’s two decades of service in law enforcement, Fiziev initially followed a similar path, enrolling at the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and earning a law degree before fully committing to his fighting career.

Inside Rafael Fiziev’s Relationship with His Parents

Following Rafael Fiziev’s win on 8 June 2025, an emotional moment unfolded outside the Octagon when his father, Salman Fiziev, joined him for a brief post-fight interview. As Rafael thanked his father on camera for the years of support and sacrifice that shaped his journey, Salman responded with visible pride, saying, “I am very proud that I have such a son,” celebrating his resilience and rise on the world’s biggest MMA stage.

The heartfelt exchange took a lighter turn when Fiziev made a small request, asking his father to cook lamb for him after the victory. Smiling, Salman replied that he would prepare the biggest lamb for his son, before kissing Rafael on the forehead, a simple yet powerful moment that captured the deep bond between them and resonated strongly with fans watching worldwide.