Justin Gaethje returned to the UFC this year on March 8th at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada after a knockout loss to former lightweight champion Max Holloway during UFC 300 last year.
Gaethje was set to face Dan Hooker in a lightweight bout, but the fight was cancelled on short notice due to Hooker breaking his hand during a training camp. Rafael Fiziev stepped in with ten days’ notice to rematch Gaethje. The pair had previously fought during UFC 286 in a wild three round lightweight bout in 2023, so many fans were excited to see the duo face off once again. Fiziev took control of round one early with a successful takedown. Fiziev was able to resist and return to his feet quickly.
Unperturbed, Fiziev once again executed a takedown throwing Gaethje to the mat. Positioning himself atop his opponent Fiziev delivered a savage strike to Gaethje’s hip. Gaethje suffered the damage and after a short struggle managed to break the leg hold and return to his feet. The rest of round one was uneventful, although Gaethje held his ground, even trying a few unsuccessful holds on Fiziev.
Round two began with a quick engagement and an exchange of strikes. A quick timeout was called not long after as a unintentional low kick from Fiziev left Gaethje needing to readjust his protective gear. Gaejthe was quick to recover, and the duo began fast paced back and forth of kicks and strikes, neither of them giving any leeway. Fiziev ‘s strong defense wore thin in the exchanges, and Gaethje managed to find an opening knocking Gaethje to the mat with a hard strike to the head. Gaethje took full advantage of the stunned Fiziev by dropping to the mat and battering him with a barrage of strikes to his head. Fiziev struggled to get away from Gaethje, but Gaethje proved irresistible, forcing Fiziev into a cinch.
Fiziev desperate to make up for lost time and energy, managed to return to his feet with twenty seconds left in the round, but Gaethje had without a doubt won round two. Round three began with Fiziev initiating the first exchange, and Gaethje responded quickly. Fiziev, determined to win the round, opted for a high kick to Gaethje’s head. Gaethje kept his momentum answering each of Fiziev’s attacks with a solid defense. Fiziev’s efforts to penetrate Gaethje’s defense would prove his downfall as he began to tire midway into the round. Gaethje’s barrage in the final twenty seconds would ultimately win him the third round. Gaethje would become the winner by unanimous decision in a close fight overall.
Justin Gaethje is currently ranked number three in the UFC’s lightweight division. Gaethje when asked about his next opponent indicated that he wished for a chance at the lightweight title, and CEO Dana white responded in a post-fight press conference that Gaetjhe’s chance at a title shot is “pretty good.” Gaetjhe was in good spirits post-fight praising his opponent Rafael Fiziev performance and rejoiced in his pride of “being an American,” his plan now is to train to fight the current UFC light weight champion Magomed Ankalaev.
