There is a clear mutual respect between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev ahead of UFC 313 this Saturday.
Having already shared the Octagon with each other in 2023 when they fought in an epic fight in London, Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev gained a newfound respect for each other.
After being brutally knocked out by Max Holloway at UFC 300 last April, Gaethje booked his UFC return for UFC 313 and a ‘guaranteed trip to the hospital’ fight against Dan Hooker.
Unfortunately, though, just over a week out from the fight, Hooker announced he was out due to a broken hand and that’s when Fiziev stepped in to take the opportunity.
Rafael Fiziev and Justin Gaethje run into each other during fight week
Despite Gaethje and Fiziev’s first meeting being a closely contested fight, ‘Attaman’ admitted a few days out from their rematch that he believes it’s a ‘miracle’ that Gaethje accepted to fight him, considering there are eight places between them in the rankings now.
“This is a miracle for me,” Gaethje told The Ariel Helwani Show.
“Every time I have some interview where people (asked me), ‘You want a rematch? What you think about a rematch?’ And I say, ‘No, listen, now I’m far from Justin and this cannot happen because I have to win maybe two (more) fights or more if I want a rematch with him.
“But before (I can do that) maybe he’ll retire or maybe he’ll stop, I don’t know.’ Now? It’s like, wow, a miracle,” he continued.
However, without the Azeri accepting the late notice opportunity, Gaethje would’ve likely been left without a fight considering both Arman Tsarukyan and Renato Moicano turned down the chance to fight ‘The Highlight’.
And with that, when the two lightweights bumped into each other a few days out from their fight, it wasn’t only Fiziev who expressed his thanks.
“Thank you, thank you. Seriously, thank you,” Trevor Wittman told Fiziev.
“Thank you, man. Thank you for the birthday gift, man,” Fiziev told Gaethje.
“For sure, hey, you too. Let’s go, let’s have fun,” Gaethje responded.
Could Rafael Fiziev enter the title conversation with a win?
The top of the lightweight division is in a strange position at the moment, with the champion, Islam Makhachev, hoping to fight a true 155lber next, instead of a potential fight against Ilia Topuria.
With Gaethje being ranked number three in the division, he believes he can earn a title shot with an exciting win over Fiziev, especially as Makhachev has named him as a potential opponent.
However, with that, if ‘Attaman’ manages to exact revenge over Gaethje, he will potentially find himself in the top 5 of the lightweight division and would be a brand new contender for the Russian champion to consider.
Although the 32-year-old is technically coming off back-to-back losses against Gaethje and Mateusz Gamrot, his fight against the Pole ended unceremoniously after he blew his knee out.
A win over ‘The Highlight’ would showcase that he is a real contender in the division and considering Makhachev’s previous comments, he could find himself in the title conversation.