Justin Gaethje has proven he’s still a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division after securing a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313. The former interim champion, facing a short-notice replacement opponent, dominated the final two rounds to claim a 29-28 scores on all three judges’ cards.
Gaethje’s comeback from a brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway was on full display as he took down Fiziev twice in the opening round and withstood an intense body kick assault before launching a flurry of head kicks and punches that left his opponent reeling. In the third round, Gaethje landed a vicious right uppercut that sent Fiziev crashing to the canvas.
Despite suffering a broken hand, Gaethje’s resilience and ring generalship earned him widespread praise from his post-fight interview. “He’s a bad motherf***er, man,” Gaethje said of Fiziev. “I really just had to start pushing forward.”
The victory marks Gaethje’s third win in four appearances, cementing his position among the top contenders in the lightweight division. For Fiziev, it was a tough night, as he fell to 0-3 since 2023.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/mma/article/ufc-313-results-justin-gaethje-outguns-rafael-fiziev-to-win-thrilling-short-notice-rematch-052811698.html