Two weeks ago, Rafael Fiziev was training like any other day when his manager sent him a text that Dan Hooker was out of the UFC 313 co-main event against Justin Gaethje. Fiziev shot his shot toward the UFC, posting on X, “Let’s run it back.” One day later, the rematch was official.
“Honestly, I didn’t believe this fight [would] happen,” Fiziev said. “I gave my name just in case, but I don’t believe 100 percent because Justin already won one time, why he need to fight me again?”
Order UFC 313: Pereira vs Ankalaev
The 32-year-old has been eager to return to the Octagon since suffering a non-contact knee injury midway through the second round against Mateusz Gamrot in September 2023.