Rafael Fiziev had options for his callout after his UFC Vegas 58 win over Rafael dos Anjos. Conor McGregor, the most well-known star in UFC — fought alongside Fiziev throughout the fight week. It would’ve made sense for Fiziev to try to capitalize on the headlines and land inside the McGregor orbit for the Irishman’s eventual UFC comeback.
But this is not Fiziev’s style.
The 29-year-old lightweight contender instead turned his crosshairs toward Justin Gaethje. And the silence he’s heard since from the two-time title challenger has been deafening.
“Everyone tries to call out McGregor,” Fiziev said Wednesday on The MMA Hour. “Everyone tries to call out him. I don’t understand it and I don’t want to step in the same way. Everyone, who — [Michael] Chandler, everyone wants a fight with him. OK, somebody go and fight with this guy. But for me, I want Gaethje now.
“But, where’s Gaethje?! I’m not sure why [he hasn’t responded].. I’m wondering why he still doesn’t answer me. He has also injury, same [as me]. This is what we need. It is necessary to determine who has the best nose job [king], now. But he still says nothing.”
A matchup between Fiziev and Gaethje certainly makes sense.
Fiziev’s win over dos Anjos jumped him into the No. 7 spot on MMA Fighting’s lightweight rankings, while Gaethje is currently sitting at No. 4. Six straight victories under UFC have highlighted Fiziev’s rise, with big knockouts by Renato Moicano and Brad Riddell. He’s won post-fight bonuses in the last five of those bouts. Gaethje, likewise, has been a bonus machine in the UFC, racking up 10 post-fight bonuses during his 10-fight octagon run. Fiziev believes his strong stand-up is what Gaethje needs after losing to Charles Oliveira in a Division flooded with talented wrestlers.
“That’s a good fight for him,” Fiziev said. “What, if he doesn’t fight with me, then who? If he doesn’t fight me, with who you can go into a fight with? With Gamrot or Daiush? This is not a good match for him. For him, this is a good match with me now, because he likes stand-up fighting. He likes to fight and I like to fight. He wants to wrestle? Then he [can fight] Dariush or Gamrot. I think I’m the perfect match for him now.”
The timelines may match up as well. Both Fiziev and Gaethje recently underwent surgery to repair their injured noses.
Fiziev said he hasn’t heard back from UFC officials regarding his proposition, but he and his team remain hopeful.
” I think it’s too early [to know], as they both had surgery, so it all depends on when the both can return,” stated Fiziev’s translator Sayat Abdrakhmanov. It could be the fight of year. This type of fight is possible. Stylistically, it’s fan friendly.”
Fiziev said he thinks he will be close to winning a UFC championship shot if he can get the Gaethje fight to win.
Oliveira is currently set to face Islam Makhachev for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 280, however the division is lacking a true No. 1 contender after that fight. Fiziev would like to fight that man. Fiziev predicted Makhachev would defeat Oliveira. He said that he enjoys the stylistic clash between him and Dagestani’s sambo artists.
But Fiziev must first get to his full health. He’s still waiting to find out his timeline for a return, but he’s hoping to fight again before 2022 is over.
“I hope. Fiziev stated that we will see how my nose develops. Fiziev said, “Last time I had to have surgery on my knee, it was after seven months that I was ready for battle. I’m a quick healer. It’s like I am a street dog. If I get hurt, it’s [healing] quick. And I hope this time is the same.”
This website uses cookies.