Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev, UFC 286 pre-fight press convention Credit score: Jamie Theodosi/Cageside Press
With Dan Hooker off the UFC 313 card subsequent month because of harm, Justin Gaethje was in want of a brand new opponent – and it will likely be a well-known face.
Introduced by the promotion on Wednesday, Gaethje (25-5) will face Rafael Fiziev (12-3) in what is predicted to now be a three-round co-main occasion in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 8, 2025.
Gaethje vs. Hooker was initially anticipated to be a five-round affair; with Fiziev stepping up on quick discover, the bout was shifted again to a few rounds.
The light-weight duo have historical past: Justin Gaethje defeated Fiziev within the pair’s first assembly in March of 2023, incomes a majority resolution. It is going to be simply shy of two years to the day between that combat and the rematch, which finds Gaethje, a former interim light-weight and BMF champ, trying to bounce again from his UFC 300 loss to Max Holloway.
Gaethje has been one of the electrifying, to not point out most violent, males in blended martial arts since his WSOF days. Fiziev isn’t any slouch himself, with eight knockouts amongst his 12 victories in MMA. With a background in Muay Thai and coaching out of Thailand, Fiziev is a lethal striker – however sat out all of 2024, and has not competed since sustaining a knee harm in his combat in opposition to Mateusz Gamrot in September 2023.
UFC 313 is headlined by gentle heavyweight champion Alex Pereira taking up Magomed Ankalaev, who will probably be getting a second crack at gold within the combat. The occasion takes place on the T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas, with the next match-ups reported:
Alex Pereira (c) vs. Magomed Ankalaev – for the UFC gentle heavyweight championship
Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev
Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo
King Inexperienced vs. Maurício Ruffy
Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev
Joshua Van vs. Rei Tsuruya
Brunno Ferreira vs. Armen Petrosyan
Alex Morono vs. Carlos Leal
Mairon Santos vs. Francis Marshall
Djorden Ribeiro dos Santos vs. Osman Diaz
