Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev met for the second time in the co-main event of UFC 313, with heavy violence forecasted.
Their first meeting in 2023 had seen Gaethje come away with a decision win in a violent, hard-hitting affair. More of the same was expected in Saturday’s rematch, with Fiziev stepping in on short notice to replace Dan Hooker – and ending a long layoff in the process.
An early clash saw Fiziev land a takedown on Gaethje, a move that came out of left field. Gaethje scrambled up only for Fiziev to land another takedown, and this time, the man known for his striking skills locked up a reverse triangle. Gaethje weathered that storm, literally just waiting Fiziev out before exploding up again. Still, the message had been sent: The Rafael Fiziev of 2025 was more than just a stand-up artist.
The next encounter found Fiziev firing knees in the clinch, while Gaethje looked to land an uppercut. Another clash saw Fiziev land kicks to the body and land his hands upstairs. Gaethje was not without his moments, the biggest coming as he landed a right hand in the final minute of the round. Moments later, Gaethje shot a takedown; Fiziev fought it off, but ate another right hand for his troubles. After a slow start for “The Highlight,” a stronger finish to the round. But a very good first frame for Rafael Fiziev.
Round two opened with Gaethje pressing forward, something he had promised in the lead-up to the fight. Fiziev however landed a low kick, leading to a pause. Gaethje walked it off, then went back to pressing the attack, landing a right, then a two-punch combo. Fiziev continued to find success with his kicks, but Gaethje was hemming him in, cutting off the cage, and ducking a head kick. Fiziev then landed a right hand of his own, trailing that missed head kick. Gaethje appeared no worse for the wear. Off the break in a brief clinch, Gaethje landed over the top. A knee by Fiziev then grazed Gaethje as he ducked down, but moments later it didn’t matter, with Justin Gaethje dropping Fiziev with an uppercut! Gaethje piled on while Fiziev covered up; somehow, Fiziev worked to his feet, though he ate another right hand in the process.
A Gaethje head kick attempt fell just short to close out the frame. It was Fiziev throwing a spinning kick, blocked, to open the third. The momentum was on Gaethje’s side heading into the final frame, but the fight was very likely even. About a minute plus into the third, Fiziev hammered a kick to the body again. In a clinch, Gaethje landed an uppercut, but he was dumped off a caught kick and had to be careful scrambling back up. Justin landed a combination, and Fiziev a knee. The fight was playing out as advertised: violent as all get-out.
Later in the frame, it was Justin Gaethje coming on strong. Fiziev, who took the fight on short notice, appeared to have slowed a step. Gaethje landed an uppercut with a minute to go, then went after a takedown, with Fiziev fending that off. Twenty seconds on the clock, and Gaethje landed a head kick, blocked. He battled to the final horn, the win likely in the bag.
The most violent man in the sport is back in the win column, in another classic Justin Gaethje performance.
Official Result: Justin Gaethje def. Rafael Fiziev by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
