Rafael Fiziev steps in to replace injured Dan Hooker against Justin Gaethje, Set for a High-Stakes Rematch at the UFC 313

Following Dan Hooker’s hand injury during a training session prior to his fixture up against Justin Gaethje, Rafael Fiziev has stepped in to replace the injured fighter at UFC 313. Scheduled for March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, this pair-up has now turned into a rematch after Gaethje and Fiziev first clashed against each other at UFC 286 in March 2023. This will also mark the return of Fiziev after a long layoff from competition.
Gaethje and Fiziev’ previous clashes at UFC 286 delivered a thrilling three-round battle that earned the coveted “Fight of the Night” award. The fight ended in a majority decision announcing victory in the favor of Gaethje. Many considered it one of the best fights of the year.
Since that fight, Gaethje has been levelled at 1-1. While he could secure a spectacular head-kick knockout victory over Dustin Poirier in their BMF title fight at UFC 291, on the other hand, he suffered a fifth-round knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300, losing out on the BMF belt.
Ever since his loss against Gaethje, Fiziev has appeared in the ring only once. The fixture was against Mateusz Gamrot in September 2023, and it didn’t end well for him. Fiziev suffered a torn ACL during the fight, leading to a TKO loss—the injury called for surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process, keeping him sidelined for months. Now, Fiziev is preparing for his comeback, stepping in on less than two weeks’ notice.
Considering the track record of both the fighters, the stakes are significantly high. While Gaethje, a former interim lightweight champion, is looking to bounce back from his last loss and maintain his place among the top contenders, Fiziev has an opportunity to make a statement with a win, potentially pushing himself closer to the title picture.

The UFC 313 event features some high-profile matchups, including:
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With their first fight being an all-out war, fans can expect another action-packed showdown between these two elite strikers in the lightweight division.