Former interim lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje is back to winning ways for the first time in almost two years, landing a unanimous decision win over Kazakh contender, Rafael Fiziev over the course of three rounds in their back-and-forth rematch in the co-headliner of UFC 313.
Gaethje, the current number three ranked contender, battled with Tiger Muay Thai ace, Fiziev back in 2023 in a trip to London, landing a close majority decision win over the-then surging striker.
However, tonight, putting their rematch beyond doubt in a short-notice rematch, Arizona veteran, Gaethje would land a unanimous decision win (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) victory over Fiziev — after a three round war in ‘Sin City’.
Sidelined since his stunning buzzer-beating knockout loss to Max Holloway in their symbolic BMF title fight at UFC 300 last year, Gaethje returned triumphantly tonight.
Suffering a pair of takedowns in the opening round, former interim titleholder, Gaethje would land a stunning second round knockdown against Fiziev.
And revealing in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan how he likely fractured one of his hands in the pairing with Fiziev, Gaethje heaped praise for the former for taking the rematch on such short-notice.
