Justin Gaethje offered rematch with top contender after Dan Hooker pulls out of UFC 313 clash
Yesterday at 05:44 AM
It is currently unknown whether Justin Gaethje will stay on the card at UFC 313 following some unfortunate news just over one week out.
‘The Highlight’ has been involved in some of the best fights that we have ever seen inside the Octagon and his next bout was looking like another instant classic.
When Gaethje isn’t knocking opponents out, it tends to result in an absolute war and that’s what the five-round co-main event in Las Vegas on March 8 promised to be.
Dan Hooker also has a good track record for stealing the show and ‘The Hangman’ was preparing for maximum carnage over five rounds at the T-Mobile Arena.
Unfortunately, Hooker has been forced to withdraw from the fight due to a hand injury which he announced himself via his daughter’s YouTube channel.
Rafael Fiziev calls to face Justin Gaethje in a rematch at UFC 313
Whilst seeing Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker get rescheduled would make a lot of sense, it means losing a lot of name value at UFC 313 next month.
If the former interim lightweight and BMF champion is going to get a new opponent for the same date, the UFC will need to act quickly but fortunately for the promotion, the lightweight division is already doing just that.
Rafael Fiziev was one of the first fighters to react to the breaking news when he posted a message on social media to make it clear that he’s willing to step-in.
‘Ataman’ has been actively pursing a return to the Octagon having not fought since suffering an injury in his main event clash with Mateusz Gamrot in September of 2023.
His fight before that was a majority decision loss to Gaethje at UFC 286 in London with both men unsurprisingly pocketing a fight of the night bonus.
Before his two latest setbacks, Fiziev was riding a six-fight win streak inside the Octagon with victories over the likes of Rafael dos Anjos, Bobby Green and Renato Moicano.
With the 31-year-old striker falling just outside of the top 10, he’s keen to get back in there and what better way to announce his return than by stepping in to save the show.
“Let's run it back @Justin_Gaethje”
The UFC might be running low on options for Justin Gaethje
Rafael Fiziev could be in with a chance of getting this rematch with Justin Gaethje because there aren’t loads of options for ‘The Highlight’ right now.
When looking at the top of the division, Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira might be the best fits but Tsarukyan only recently suffered a back injury that forced him out of UFC 311.
A rematch with ‘Do Bronx’ appears to be the best fit and with Dustin Poirier looking ahead to his final fight inside the Octagon, it’s slim pickings at the top of 155-pounds.
The likes of Fiziev, or Beneil Dariush who had his UFC 311 fight with Renato Moicano cancelled on short notice, could also be in the running unless the UFC decides to pull Gaethje from the card also.
