Justin Gaethje isn’t done just yet. The former UFC interim lightweight champion earned a much-needed win on Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 313, outworking and outgunning Rafael Fiziev to claim a hard-fought unanimous decision in a short-notice rematch at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Gaethje overcame a fast start from Fiziev to overwhelm his late-replacement foe over the final two rounds and claim a trio of 29-28 scores, successfully rebounding from his brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 and returning to lightweight title contention.
“He’s a bad motherf***er, man. Honestly, world-class,” Gaethje said post-fight of Fiziev. “He really changed his tactics from the last fight and I really just had to start pushing forward.
“Twelve days notice, for him to not get completed exhausted, he deserves so much credit. This sport is so f***ing crazy. And I’m pretty sure my hand’s broken, but that’s one tough son of a b*tch.”
Gaethje (26-5) and Fiziev (12-4) previously fought in March 2023 at UFC 286, with Gaethje claiming a majority decision over Fiziev in a rollicking bout that captured “Fight of the Night” honors.
Fiziev, 32, accepted the rematch at UFC 313 on less than two weeks’ notice after Gaethje’s original opponent, Dan Hooker, withdrew due to a broken hand. Prior to Saturday night, Fiziev hadn’t competed since suffering a torn left ACL in September 2023 loss to Mateusz Gamrot.
Gaethje, 36, was on the wrong end of 2024’s Knockout of the Year — and one of the greatest knockouts in UFC history — in his previous outing, falling victim to Holloway’s literal last-second point-down throwdown this past April. But for anyone who doubted whether Gaethje’s days as a contender were behind him, “The Highlight” warded off that conversation with a throwback performance at UFC 313.
After fending off an opening round sprint from Fiziev, which saw the Kazakhstan native score a pair of early takedowns and repeatedly blast Gaethje with hard body kicks, Gaethje roared back in the final 10 minutes, landing an array of head kicks and hard looping punches, including a nasty right uppercut in the second round that sent Fiziev tumbling to the canvas. Gaethje continued to capitalize on his momentum in the third round, creating a large mouse under Fiziev’s left eye with repeated right hands.
“Let’s train together,” Gaethje told Fiziev after the rematch. “Let’s never fight again, unless it’s for a belt.”
Gaethje is now 3-1 over his past four UFC appearances, while Fiziev tumbles to 0-3 since 2023.
For full UFC 313 results, highlights and play-by-play, check out Uncrowned’s UFC 313 event hub.
