In a rematch that proved to be as entertaining as their first fight at UFC 286 two years ago, Justin Gaethje once again was able to edge out Rafael Fiziev on the scorecards, coming out on top in the co-main event of UFC 313.
Fiziev pulled off a sudden takedown in the opening minute. Gaethje was able to explode out of it, but Fiziev landed a knee and got the fight back to the ground, where he troubled "The Highlight" briefly with an inverted triangle. Gaethje worked his way back into the round, but "Ataman" landed more and did a strong job working over his opponent's body.
Gaethje got back into the fight with more solid output and significant strikes in the second round. This was solidified with about a minute left in the round, dodging a Fiziev punch and throwing a left hand around the Azerbaijani's head before dropping him with a right uppercut. The former interim champion did some more damage on the ground before the round's end.
The third round was back-and-forth, with Fiziev taking control early. "Ataman" got back to working the body in the round, landing a series of kicks to Gaethje's torso. The American ate a bunch early in the frame, but he landed an uppercut and took the fight to the fence briefly. Gaethje took advantage of a gassed Fiziev and landed a series of hard strikes before the fight's conclusion.
Ultimately, "The Highlight's" forward pressure and significant strikes in the third were enough for the judges, with all three giving him 29-28 scores for the nod.
Justin Gaethje Edges Out Rafael Fiziev Once Again At UFC 313
Justin Gaethje has now scored three wins in his last four fights and rebounds from being the highlight-reel KO victim of Max Holloway, to whom he lost the BMF title at UFC 300.
Meanwhile, this was Rafael Fiziev's first fight since tearing his ACL in late 2023. He took this fight on short notice following an injury to Gaethje's originally scheduled opponent, Dan Hooker.