Rafael Fiziev, known for his dynamic fighting style, boasts a strong background in Muay Thai and kickboxing, which shines through in his Octagon performances. His remarkable knockout of Brad Riddell, a fellow striking expert, underscores his threat in the UFC lightweight division. But in lieu of the absence of the #6 in the UFC lightweight, the future of the division might be in jeopardy!

Fans eagerly awaited Fiziev’s return to action after his recent loss to Justin Gaethje, hoping he would regain his winning momentum against Mateusz Gamrot. However, what unfolded in the fight was beyond anyone’s expectations.

Rafael Fiziev has a unique outlook after an unexpected ending to fight

The clash between Gamrot and Fiziev began with the expected intensity. However, a pivotal moment arrived approximately two minutes into the second round. When Fiziev launched a right-leg kick that met Gamrot’s defense. In an unforeseen turn, Fiziev collapsed in agony before he could recover. Gamrot capitalized on this opportunity with punches, prompting referee Herb Dean to intervene and halt the bout.

After the fight, Fiziev shared a video update from the medical facility on his Instagram. Fiziev humorously acknowledged the unique world of combat sports in the video.  He could be heard saying, “Look, everybody here, what a business yeah, what a business guys, the best business in the world. Everybody here…”

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In the video, fellow fighters Bryce Mitchell and Michelle Waterson-Gomez made appearances, sharing lighthearted moments. It remains to be seen what’s next for the UFC lightweights as this highly anticipated matchup was key to the future of the lightweight division.

The future of the UFC lightweight division

Gamrot, who entered the fight as a slight underdog, secured his second consecutive victory. Unfortunately for Fiziev, this marks his second consecutive loss, ending his previous six-fight winning streak.

The outcome of the showdown left a sense of disappointment. Gamrot expressed this sentiment in the post-fight interview, acknowledging that it wasn’t the ideal conclusion. He wished Rafael Fiziev a swift recovery. He also acknowledged that, in the end, ‘a victory is a victory,’ eagerly looking forward to his next challenge.

According to him, “My dream fight, of course, is the champion Islam Makhachev, but this is not now. But my next fight I would like to challenge myself to the most dangerous fighter on the ground, Charles Oliveira. I would like to fight this guy.”

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During the fight, Fiziev leveraged his striking and distance control to maintain a high pace, primarily staying on the outside to unleash his devastating strikes. While Gamrot managed to close the distance in the second round, Fiziev demonstrated his ground skills, swiftly returning to his feet. However, the fight came to an abrupt end due to the kick and the injury.

With Fiziev out of the picture for the foreseeable future, it remains to be seen who will rise through the ranks to take on the dominant Islam Makhachev. Do you think Mateusz Gamrot has what it takes to be the champion? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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