In the co-main event of UFC 313, Justin Gaethje dazzled the audience with a hard-fought decision win over Rafael Fiziev at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Gaethje had a lot on the line in this fight, having recently suffered a defeat at the hands of Max Holloway during his defense of the BMF title. However, he delivered an impressive performance. Both fighters entered the cage fired up, with Fiziev taking the first bold move by going for a series of early takedowns. Gaethje, however, was quick to get back on his feet each time. The two soon settled into striking stances, exchanging rounds of body kicks and punches until Gaethje landed a savage overhand that rocked Fiziev, leaving a swelling on his right eye.
Fiziev began to tire, but Gaethje pressed forward, continuing his onslaught with vicious hooks and jabs. Fiziev, though clearly winded, waited for his moment and soon landed a head kick-punch combination that briefly paused Gaethje. However, Gaethje quickly responded with an overhand and a perfectly timed uppercut that sent Fiziev to the canvas. Gaethje followed up with ground and pound, but Fiziev managed to survive until the end of the round.
In the following rounds, He maintained his relentless pursuit, chasing Fiziev and landing head kicks and body shots that left his opponent gasping for air. Gaethje’s persistent pressure and body shots eventually wore down Fiziev, leaving his defenses open. At the end of the bout, Gaethje secured a unanimous decision win.
“World class,” Gaethje said of Fiziev after the fight. “He really changed his tactics from the last fight. I really just had to start pushing forward. He deserves so much credit. This sport is so f*cking crazy. I’m pretty sure my hand is broken, but that is one tough son of a b*tch. I had to come back. I had to show everybody. I’m No. 3 in the world, and I’m the most exciting guy that’s ever stepped in there.”
Gaethje, 36, had been on the wrong end of 2024’s Knockout of the Year — and one of the greatest knockouts in UFC history — in his previous outing, where he fell victim to Holloway’s literal last-second throwdown in April 2024. But for anyone who doubted whether Gaethje’s days as a contender were behind him, “The Highlight” shut down those conversations with a throwback performance at UFC 313.
