“I go in there and get a finish with an outstanding performance like I always do, I think I’ll be one of the guys that they consider to fight [Islam] Makhachev,” Justin Gaethje said last month when speaking about his future title aspirations, well before his fight at UFC 313 against Dan Hooker. Now, with UFC 313 in the books, it’s a show to remember. From the prelims to the main card inside the T-Mobile Arena, every fighter made their mark, but none more than the co-main event between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev. A broken hand forced Dan Hooker out of the event.
In the bout, Justin Gaethje, coming off a devastating loss to Max Holloway at the historic UFC 300 last year, turned the tables with an impressive performance against short-notice opponent Rafael Fiziev, who was ranked 11th. Gaethje lost round 1 but his striking earned him the later rounds. However, Fiziev didn’t just come to take Gaethje’s punches and takedowns—he fought back with precise kicks and devastating body shots that kept the fans on the edge of their seats, leaving everything to be decided in the third round.
In the final round, Gaethje didn’t give Fiziev any breathing room. Despite stepping in on short notice, Fiziev applied equal pressure, but couldn’t match Gaethje’s powerful uppercuts. The hard-fought 15-minute battle ended with Gaethje earning the judges’ nod, winning the fight with a 29-28 scorecard, securing a 2-0 record over Fiziev. This victory positions Gaethje as a strong contender for a title shot against UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
MMA figures, including UFC legend Henry Cejudo, praised Gaethje’s performance at UFC 313. Dana White, during the post-fight press conference, was asked, “Do you feel like, at this point in his career, he’s still on a potential championship trajectory?” White responded, “I mean, what’s he ranked now? Fourth or something [3]? He’s still the number three ranked guy in the world, so the odds of him getting the title shot are pretty good.”
MMA: UFC 249-Ferguson vs Gaethje May 9, 2020 Jacksonville, Florida, USA Dana White puts the championship belt on Justin Gaethje blue gloves after defeating Tony Ferguson red gloves during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Jacksonville VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena Florida USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJasenxVinlovex 14296897
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