'No doubt'… UFC legend shares grim predcition for Justin Gaethje vs Rafael Fiziev 2
03/01/2025 09:41 AM
Dominick Cruz believes that the new UFC 313 co-main event will only end one way.
The recently retired two-time bantamweight champion has fought his last war inside the Octagon.
Now he’s looking forward to watching them, starting with Justin Gaethje vs Rafael Fiziev 2 at UFC 313.
Dan Hooker broke his hand and withdrew from his fight with ‘The Highlight’ last week before being replaced by Rafael Fiziev, who will now get the chance to avenge his most famous defeat in Las Vegas on March 8.
Dominick Cruz makes hospital prediction
Justin Gaethje first squared off against his UFC 313 opponent at London’s O2 Arena in March 2023.
The lightweight duo delivered pure chaos for three rounds when they clashed in the UFC 286 co-main event, which ended with Gaethje edging out a decision win before both men were checked over at a local hospital.
Cruz doesn’t know who will win the rematch, but he’s sure that another hospital visit will be needed.
“It's a great opportunity for Fiziev and I tip my hat to Gaethje for giving the opportunity,” the UFC legend recently told Helen Yee.
“There's not a lot of guys willing to do rematches because they know. 'Alright, I beat this guy, and I don't wanna give him another shot to beat me'. Guys don't always give rematches. I've had a couple rivalries where I've had to rematch and it’s a different game when you've gotta prepare for the same guy.
“He's had short notice to do so, but I know Gaethje has prepared for a very hard fight, so it's probably just par for the course for him to just adapt to a different style.
“A pure kickboxer, not a lot of grappling, he’s gonna force on Gaethje. So, it'll be a fun fight, just like it was the first time. They both went to the hospital. I have no doubt it's going to be the same way this time.”
Will Justin Gaethje get the next lightweight title shot?
Islam Makhachev quickly submitted Renato Moicano to defend the lightweight title on short notice at UFC 311 in January.
The pound-for-pound king is weighing up his options for his next fight as there’s no obvious number one contender at 155lbs.
Ilia Topuria appears to be angling for the matchup after recently relinquishing his UFC featherweight title.
Gaethje has also expressed an interest in facing Makhachev after previously being choked out by his teammate, Khabib Nurmagomedov, at UFC 254 in October 2020.
Cruz believes that an impressive performance next weekend could land Gaethje the Makhachev fight.
He added: “I think it’s always gonna come down to the fight performance on that night.
“How the fight looks. How the fight comes together. How it ends.
“That will tell the story for the next step, Gaethje gets to receive, I think.”
