Rafael Fiziev has shared the octagon with Justin Gaethje on two separate occasions, so it’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about “The Highlight.”
Which is why it’s interesting to hear Fiziev (13-4), who has his own fight with Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 325 this Saturday in Sydney, Australia, question Gaethje’s fitness in his recent interim title fight victory over Paddy Pimblett.
Gaethje and Pimblett headlined UFC 324 this past weekend, with Gaethje earning a clear, five-round unanimous decision to become a two-time interim champ in the UFC. That has locked up a title unification bout against Ilia Topuria, who is taking time off from MMA for personal reasons.
Fiziev suggested this week that Gaethje looked slow in the Pimblett fight from the outset, however.
“It was a good fight. I’m happy for Justin. I’m surprised how he’s not in shape in this fight, honestly,” Fiziev stated during the UFC 325 media day. “In the first round, he started this fight very slow, he looked like he’s like sick, not in shape.”
“I think if he [was the] same shape like I fought him in London, he would finish Paddy in the first two rounds. I don’t think he was really 100% in shape for this fight. I see his neck, maybe staph infection it looked like.”
Much was made of a mark on Gaethje’s neck in advance of UFC 324, which appeared to be a possible staph infection. Gaethje went off on one reporter who asked about the apparent infection, suggesting that HIPPA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) somehow blocked the reporter from asking such questions (it does not).
Fiziev, meanwhile, also addressed Pimblett going the distance with one of the most violent men in MMA history. “And Paddy, he made me surprised. His head is really strong.”
As for his own fight with Ruffy, it feels like a possible Fight of the Night contender at UFC 325. Fiziev seems to be expecting a stand-up battle at least.
“Definitely, we are both strikers. We love to [have] stand up fights, and we both like to continue with that. He has a beautiful style, I have beautiful style, maybe we’re going to be on [our feet] all fight.”
Watch the full UFC 325 media day appearance by Rafael Fiziev above.
