Justin Gaethje marked his impactful return to the Octagon at UFC 313.
After suffering a knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300, Gaethje entered the fight with a point to prove and successfully silenced his doubters. He fearlessly engaged Rafael Fiziev for the entirety of their 15-minute co-main event fight, even landing a significant knockdown with a powerful uppercut in the second round, which ultimately contributed to his win.
The judges’ scorecards all read 29-28 in favor of Gaethje, who celebrated his return to the win column and improved his record to 2-0 against Fiziev.
“Fiziev is world class,” Gaethje acknowledged after the fight. “He adapted his strategy from our previous encounter. I had to take the initiative and push forward. He deserves immense respect. This sport is truly unpredictable. I believe I might have broken my hand, but he is an incredibly tough opponent.”
“I needed to come back and demonstrate my capabilities to everyone. I am ranked No. 3 globally, and I am the most exciting fighter to ever compete in the octagon,” Gaethje asserted.
In a clash between two renowned strikers, Fiziev surprised with early takedown attempts, but Gaethje remained composed and quickly returned to his feet. Fiziev adopted a more controlled striking approach compared to their first fight, with both lightweights exchanging powerful knees and body kicks.
Towards the end of the first round, Gaethje landed a strong right hand that staggered Fiziev, who also began to show swelling under his right eye from an earlier exchange.
As the fight progressed, Fiziev selectively chose his strikes while Gaethje pressed forward, aiming to draw him into an exchange. Fiziev relied on brief bursts of offense, while Gaethje started unleashing heavy punches.
This led to Fiziev landing a sharp head kick followed by a solid punch, but Gaethje responded with another powerful overhand right. In the ensuing exchange, Gaethje ducked and connected with a perfectly timed uppercut that dropped Fiziev to the canvas.
Gaethje attempted to finish the fight, but Fiziev managed to survive until the end of the second round.
In the final round, Fiziev focused more on his kicking game, targeting Gaethje’s head and body with forceful strikes. Gaethje countered with uppercuts, which had previously hurt Fiziev, and followed up with strong right hands, continuing to inflict damage.
Gaethje maintained relentless pressure on Fiziev, who visibly slowed down, likely due to accepting the fight on short notice. Seeking to secure the victory, Gaethje landed a powerful head kick that connected with Fiziev’s face and continued his aggressive attack, a strategy that has become his trademark.
This final surge ensured Gaethje’s victory. After the fight, Gaethje suggested to Fiziev that they should train together and only fight again if a championship is at stake.
It was a remarkable comeback for Gaethje, who faced significant questions after his knockout loss to Holloway the previous year. This win propels Gaethje back into the upper echelon of the lightweight division, presenting him with numerous potential high-profile matchups.
