On March 18, 2023, at The O2 Arena in London, lightweight sensation Rafael Fiziev engaged in a whirlwind battle against Justin Gaethje, leaving spectators awestruck and craving more. While he didn’t clinch the victory that night, Fiziev’s electrifying performance firmly established him as one of the UFC’s most thrilling fighters. It’s not far-fetched to call him “Justin Gaethje Light.”
Fiziev, renowned for his striking prowess, stepped into the octagon having secured post-fight bonuses in his previous five outings. Naturally, fans anticipated he would extend his streak to six bonuses against Gaethje. And indeed, the fight lived up to expectations, earning “Fight of the Night” honors, even though Fiziev came up short on the judges’ scorecards.
However, Fiziev wasn’t entirely content with his performance. He confessed that he got caught up in the dedication of the crowd at the packed O2 Arena, allowing it to influence his fighting style. His eagerness to please the fans inadvertently played into Gaethje’s strengths, leading to his opponent’s victory.
“I followed my fire and I followed the screaming fans inside the arena,” Fiziev told Yahoo Sports. “Whenever I tried to do something, I could hear the screaming of the fans. They wanted more and more, and I wanted more and more to show them, and I just followed my fire. It’s something I learned from, for sure.”
Ranked No. 6 in the lightweight division, Fiziev faces another challenging bout against No. 7, Mateusz Gamrot, in the main event at UFC Vegas 79, set to take place at the Apex. While the crowd’s roar won’t be a factor this time, Fiziev is determined not to repeat the same mistakes.
Reflecting on his 2021 fight against Bobby Green in Houston, where crowd influence also played a role, Fiziev acknowledged the need to stay focused on his strategy, regardless of the external noise. Learning from the Gaethje fight, he stressed the importance of fighting his fight and maintaining composure.
Mateusz Gamrot, a skilled wrestler and grappler, is unlikely to engage in a striking battle with Fiziev. Instead, he’s expected to seek takedowns and ground control. Fiziev, no stranger to this style of opponent, has honed his takedown defense to an impressive 90 percent.
“He’s got great wrestling, that’s obvious,” Fiziev acknowledged. “He’s going to try to do what almost everyone has ever fought tries to do: Take me down. I understand this. I am prepared for this kind of attack. But I’ve fought against this for so long, I understand it.”
With Gamrot averaging 4.54 takedowns per 15 minutes, Fiziev’s ability to thwart these attempts could be pivotal. Fiziev’s goal is clear: keep the fight standing. His track record of winning three “Fight of the Night” and three “Performance of the Night” bonuses in his last six outings underscores his skill in dictating the fight’s location.
His battle against Gaethje served as a coming-out party, where fans got a firsthand look at his striking abilities, despite the loss. Fiziev aims to capitalize on this newfound recognition, emphasizing the importance of leaving a lasting impression.
“I want people to remember me,” he said. “Think about the ‘Korean Zombie’ and look at that crowd in his last fight. He was never a champion, but the crowd loved him because of the way he fought. That is one of my goals.”
As Fiziev continues to showcase his exciting style and keeps his fights upright, he moves closer to becoming a fan-favorite in the footsteps of fighters like the “Korean Zombie.” The UFC’s next big sensation might just be on the horizon.
