Rafael Fiziev, known for his highly technical yet action-packed fighting style, has built quite a reputation in the world of MMA. With an impressive 6-fight win streak in the competitive lightweight division, Fiziev earned himself a bout against the BMF titleholder, Justin Gaethje at UFC 286, which definitely took an unexpected turn.

In his showdown with Gaethje, Fiziev displayed his skills in a fierce three-round battle but ultimately faced defeat through a unanimous decision. Currently, as he’s gearing up for his upcoming match against Mateusz Gamrot at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, he clearly carries the lessons from his defeat. In an interview with TMZ Sports, Fiziev bore his hurt out and revealed the valuable lessons he gained from the experience.

Rafael Fiziev has learned his lesson from his fight against Justin Gaethje

While in conversation with TMZ Sports, when asked about the challenge of bouncing back after a tough fight, Fiziev was quick to acknowledge that a loss is a loss. ‘Ataman’ then shifted his focus to the valuable lessons, while candidly admitting the importance of not letting emotions and the roar of the arena dictate his actions in the cage. “I learn how to cook good humble pie… I’m joking,” he chuckles.

Further in the conversation, he reveals how he has learned the importance of not letting emotions and the roar of the arena dictate his actions in the cage- “I learned like, what, not follow my fire inside me. Not follow emotions. Not follow the arena. and….follow the the game-plan. because on this fight, I forget about everything… I hear how arena screaming and I wanna more and more. Ok, I wanna action more, I forget about game plan.”

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Fiziev, with a solid MMA record of 12 wins and 2 losses, including a UFC record of 6 wins and 2 losses, was considered a formidable opponent for Gaethje. Many believed that Fiziev’s exceptional striking abilities might overpower Gaethje. However, despite a strong start, Fiziev found himself outworked and bloodied by ‘The Highlight’ as the fight progressed, resulting in a unanimous victory for Gaethje.

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Despite the setback, Fiziev remains determined to make a run at the lightweight belt. He is ready to take on the next guy without thinking about who it is, the title, or the ranks- all signs of a remarkable fighter!

A quick look at the upcoming ‘Ataman’ vs. ‘Gamer’ matchup

This weekend, Rafael Fiziev and Mateusz Gamrot will headline UFC Vegas 79. Fiziev, holding the sixth spot in the lightweight division rankings, will face Gamrot, who sits at number seven.

Fiziev boasts an impressive 66% knockout rate, with a record of 12 wins and 2 losses, including 8 knockouts. In his most recent bout, he suffered a majority decision defeat at the hands of Justin Gaethje six months ago. On the other hand, Gamrot enters the fight with a stellar 22-2 record, featuring 7 knockouts.

Gamrot relies on his wrestling pressure to set up submission opportunities, while Fiziev is known as a classic power striker who strategically reads his opponents and aims to land devastating strikes. This matchup adds excitement to the division as the outcome will influence the rankings and potentially lead to intriguing matchups at the top.

Rafael Fiziev’s loss to Justin Gaethje has provided him with valuable lessons, which he intends to apply in his upcoming clash with Mateusz Gamrot. So in a fight where the champion is not ‘thinking about rankings,’ who do you believe has the edge in this showdown? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

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