Rafael Fiziev is stepping into the spotlight at UFC 313, seizing the opportunity after Dan Hooker was forced to pull out due to injury. Set for March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Fiziev will now face Justin Gaethje in what promises to be an electrifying co-main event. The UFC broke the news on Wednesday, signaling a much-anticipated matchup.
When Hooker’s withdrawal became public knowledge, several fighters threw their hats in the ring to step into his shoes. However, it was Fiziev who got the call, setting the stage for an exciting rematch between these two dynamic fighters.
Their first encounter took place back in March 2023 at UFC 286, where Gaethje edged out a narrow victory over Fiziev with a majority decision. This upcoming fight gives Fiziev a chance to settle the score nearly two years later.
Fiziev, boasting a record of 12 wins and 3 losses, finds himself in unfamiliar territory, having suffered two consecutive defeats for the first time. Following that tight decision loss to Gaethje, Fiziev faced Mateusz Gamrot but was sidelined with an injury. Not having fought since September 2023, he is currently positioned at No. 11 in the ultra-competitive 155-pound division.
On the other side of the octagon, Gaethje comes in with a 25-5 record. His last bout was at UFC 300 last April, where he faced a setback, falling to Max Holloway via knockout in the chase for the symbolic “BMF” belt. Despite this, Gaethje has maintained his footing as the No. 3 ranked fighter in the lightweight ranks.
The main event for UFC 313 will see middleweight champion Alex Pereira defending his title against Magomed Ankalaev, the top contender at 205 pounds. Ankalaev is making his second bid for the light heavyweight championship after his previous attempt at UFC 282 ended in a split draw against Jan Błachowicz. The stakes will be high, raising the anticipation for what could be a pivotal night in the UFC.
