Rafael Fiziev is a lightweight going places. He picked up the biggest win over his career on Saturday knocking out former champion Rafael dos Anjos in the UFC Vegas 58 main event.
Fiziev entered the bout ranked No. 10 in the UFC 155-pound rankings while dos Anjos was ranked No. 7. With the win over the former titleholder, Fiziev wants to take on a Top 5 ranked opponent in his next outing and has one in mind. Fiziev is eyeing a fight against No. 5 ranked Justin Gaethje.
“I want a fight with Gaethje,” Fiziev said. “We need to know who is the best for you and for me. If you’re ready, if you’re no scared, if you don’t take s**t, let’s go.”
A bout against former interim lightweight champion and two-time title challenger would be a step up in completion for Fiziev, but he believes the matchup makes sense. He also thinks that, stylistically, the fight would be entertaining for the fans.
“He’s dangerous. He’s also a big challenge for me. He has a lot of chance for knocking me out, and I have a lot of chance for knocking him out,” Fiziev said. “That’s a good fight, I think, for fans also.”
See everything Fiziev had to say following his knockout win on Saturday, including his opinion on Gathje’s kicks in the video below.
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Rafael Fiziev: UFC Vegas 58 Post-fight Press Conference Video
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Rafael Fiziev calls out Justin Gaethje during UFC Vegas 58 Post-fight Press Conference
