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Report – Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev targeted for UFC 286 on March 18. in London

A high-stakes lightweight fight between former interim division champion, the #3 ranked contender, Justin Gaethje, and surging challenger, the #6 rated, Rafael Fiziev is close to being finalized for UFC 286 on March 18. from The O2 Arena in London, England. Gaethje, a former interim 155lbs champion under the banner of the UFC, headlined UFC […]

Gaethje, a former interim 155lbs champion under the banner of the UFC, headlined UFC 274 most recently back in May of last year in Phoenix, Arizona – suffering a first round rear-naked choke loss to former undisputed champion, Charles Oliveira.

For Fiziev, the streaking Tiger Muay Thai staple recorded his sixth consecutive victory under the UFC banner back in July of last year in a main event slot against former undisputed champion, Rafael dos Anjos, securing a fifth round KO win.

ESPN MMA reporter, Brett Okamoto confirmed the bout between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev was expected for UFC 286 on March 18 tonight.

“London. Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) vs. Rafael Fiziev (@RafaelFiziev) is nearly finalized for UFC 286 on March 18. Nos. 3 and 6 at lightweight to meet. What a fight.”

London. Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) vs. Rafael Fiziev (@RafaelFiziev) is nearly finalized for UFC 286 on March 18. Nos. 3 and 6 at lightweight to meet. What a fight. pic.twitter.com/GtKSouskku

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) January 15, 2023

Justin Gaethje defeated Tony Ferguson in 2020 to win interim lightweight gold

Clinching the interim UFC lightweight title back in 2020, Gaethje snapped the division-best winning spree of fellow former interim gold holder, Tony Ferguson at 12 straight fights – courtesy of a fifth round TKO win.

Failing to successfully unify the lightweight titles against the now-retired, Khabib Nurmagomedov in September of that year in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Gaethje returned to defeat Michael Chandler at UFC 268 in November 2021 before his title challenge loss to Oliveira last May.

Prior to his UFC debut back in 2017, Gaethje was a former WSOF (now PFL) lightweight champion, and has landed other Octagon wins over the likes of Donald Cerrone, and Edson Barboza to boot.

Embarking on an impressive winning spree since dropping his UFC debut loss to Magomed Mustafaev, Fiziev has landed victories over the quarter of Renato Moicano, Bobby Green, Brad Riddell, and the aforenoted, dos Anjos in the last two years.

UFC 286 takes place on March 18. from The O2 Arena in London, England – with an official main event bout for the card yet to be determined by the organization.

Paul Craig targets UFC 286 clash with Anthony Smith for the title “of being the jiu-jitsu guy at light-heavyweight.”

Paul Craig has welcomed the opportunity to face fellow light-heavyweight contender Anthony Smith at the UFC’s upcoming pay-per-view in London. Paul Craig returns to action later this month at UFC 283. The Scottish grappling wizard had been tasked with taking on native Brazilian, Johnny Walker, in his homeland when the promotion heads to South America […]

Paul Craig has welcomed the opportunity to face fellow light-heavyweight contender Anthony Smith at the UFC’s upcoming pay-per-view in London.

Paul Craig returns to action later this month at UFC 283. The Scottish grappling wizard had been tasked with taking on native Brazilian, Johnny Walker, in his homeland when the promotion heads to South America for their first pay-per-view event of the year.

The 35-year-old will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing final outing in 2022 where he dropped a unanimous decision to Volkan Oezdemir at UFC London.

Meanwhile, his opponent, Johnny Walker, will be looking to claim back-to-back victories for the first time since 2019 after he closed his 2022 out with a submission victory over Ion Cutelaba at UFC 279.

You can expect an all-out war when these two men step inside the octagon at the UFC 283, The two hold a combined 47 professional outings so far in their respective careers which have only required the judges’ influence on five occasions,

Should Craig emerge victorious out in Brazil, ‘Bearjew’ already has his sights set on his next opponent after he called for a matchup with former light-heavyweight title challenger, Anthony Smith.

Paul Craig Calls For Anthony Smith at UFC 286

Speaking in an interview with Michael Bisping, Craig explained his interest in the matchup and why he is so eager to take on the currently ranked 6^th 205-pound contender.

“Anthony Smith is already in a camp. So potentially could be Anthony Smith in London. That would be a pretty good fight in London.”

Craig continued, “He’s obviously come out and said that he wanted to fight me after one of his press conferences. I think it’s a tough and fun fight. Two high-level Jiu-Jitsu guys kind of staying with each other, that just turns into this rock em’ sock em’ robot fighting. I think that is how it’s going to go and I’m also looking for a challenge, I’d like to have that title of being the jiu-jitsu guy at light-heavyweight.”

Anthony Smith has already revealed he is almost certainly guaranteed an outing in March and having expressed an interest in facing Paul Craig the UFC matchmakers should have a very easy decision to get these two men paired up.

Would you like to see Paul Craig vs Anthony Smith at UFC 286 in London?

Leon Edwards Puts Recent Rumors About Kamaru Usman Trilogy To Rest

UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards has confirmed that he will be facing Kamaru Usman at UFC 286 in London, England. At UFC 278 last August, Leon Edwards pulled off arguably the greatest come-from-behind victory in promotion history when he knocked …

Continue Reading Leon Edwards Puts Recent Rumors About Kamaru Usman Trilogy To Rest at MMA News.

Leon Edwards still expecting Kamaru Usman rubber match to take place at UFC 286: ‘The fight’s on’

Incumbent UFC welterweight champion, Leon Edwards has claimed the UFC have informed him former champion, Kamaru Usman is already preparing for a title trilogy rubber match at UFC 286 on March 18. in London, England – despite the fact the bout has yet to be officially confirmed by the organization. Edwards, the undisputed welterweight champion, […]

Edwards, the undisputed welterweight champion, managed to land Octagon spoils at the end of August last year in a rematch against Auchi native, Usman, rallying from a three round swing to land a stunning fifth round high kick KO win.

The victory saw Edwards avenge a 2015 unanimous decision loss to ONX Labs trainee, Usman during their respective tenures as division contenders – with the welterweight standouts expected to headline a UFC 286 card in March.

Leon Edwards still expecting to fight Kamaru Usman at UFC 286

Yet to find himself officially booked against Usman, speculation has mounted that Edwards may be facing any combination of Khamzat Chimaev, Colby Covington, or even Jorge Masvidal in a London homecoming, however, the Birmingham favorite has been offer reassurances from the UFC that a trilogy fight with Usman is still on.

“Yeah, 100 percent, that’s what I’ve been told – that’s what my team’s been told,” Leon Edwards said of a UFC 286 fight with Usman during an appearance on the Believe You Me podcast. “I talked to the UFC last week, I think, and I’ve been told ‘The fight is on, he’s already training for the fight.’ So I was like, okay, perfect.”

“I am aiming towards that,” Leon Edwards explained. “If something changes in the meantime that, then we’ll go from there. But I am focused on having that trilogy with Usman in London.”

Seeing his promotional-perfect run halted against Team Renagade BJJ & MMA staple, Edwards back in August, Usman also slumped from the #1 rank in the official UFC pound-for-pound rankings, and has since been replaced by featherweight best, Alexander Volkanovski.

Rafael Fiziev reveals the UFC have promised him fight with Justin Gaethje in March

Surging UFC lightweight contender, Rafael Fiziev has revealed the organization have promised him a mouth-watering matchup as soon as March of this year – in the form of a potential title eliminator against former interim gold holder, Justin Gaethje. Fiziev, who landed his first promotional headliner back in July of last year at UFC Vegas […]

Fiziev, who landed his first promotional headliner back in July of last year at UFC Vegas 58, managed to earn the #6 rank in the official lightweight rankings with an eventual fifth round knockout win over former undisputed champion, Rafael dos Anjos.

As for Gaethje, the current #3 ranked lightweight contender, headlined UFC 274 back in May of last year against former champion, Charles Oliveira, suffering a first round rear-naked choke loss on home soil in Arizona.

Rafael Fiziev claims a fight with Justin Gaethje is being targeted for March

In the time since, Fiziev has been linked with a potential championship eliminator against the veteran Gaethje. And amid rumblings of a pairing between the two for this year, the Kazakh-born striker claims the UFC have promised him a fight with Trevor Wittman trainee, Gaethje for March – either at UFC 285 on March 4. – or UFC 286 in London, England on March 18.

“I’m not announcing anything, but the UFC promised us that I’ll be fighting Justin Gaethje in March,” Rafael Fiziev told Captain Hardcore during a recent interview. “Everyone wants this fight, Dana White wants this fight. I was told to get ready for March.”

“We’re waiting for the contract to make it official,” Rafael Fiziev explained. “That’s what it is as of now. If something changes, I’ll be shocked. If it gets cancelled, I’ll record a story like, ‘UFC, what’s going on?’ [Location] is the only question. They said either March 4. or 18.”

Despite Gaethje’s apparent radio silence of a potential fight against him, Tiger Muay Thai striker, Fiziev insists the UFC are eager to book the matchup regardless.

“I like that the UFC supported this fight from the beginning,” Rafael Fiziev said. “(Justin) Gaethje is being quiet – Ali Abdelaziz tried to say something. They are still doing what they’ve been doing. The UFC wants it. When the UFC wants it, they make it happen.”

12-1 as a professional, Fiziev has so far enjoyed a 6-1 stint with the UFC, defeating Alex White, Marc Diakiese, Renato Moicano, Bobby Green, Brad Riddell, and the aforenoted, dos Anjos following a debut knockout loss to UFC alum, Magomed Mustafaev.

Report: Major Update On Possible Justin Gaethje Vs. Rafael Fiziev Fight

UFC fans hoping to see former lightweight title challenger Justin Gaethje take on Rafael Fiziev just got some good news. During a recent interview with Patrick McCorry, ESPN’s Brett Okamoto revealed that Gaethje/Fiziev remains on the UFC’s …

Continue Reading Report: Major Update On Possible Justin Gaethje Vs. Rafael Fiziev Fight at MMA News.