Gaethje vs. Fiziev Rematch Set for UFC 313

UFC 313's co-main event has changed following Dan Hooker's withdrawal due to a hand injury, with Justin Gaethje now set to face Rafael Fiziev in a lightweight rematch. Fiziev, who Gaethje previously defeated via majority decision in a thrilling encounter at UFC 286 in March 2023, steps in on short notice after recovering from an ACL injury sustained in his last fight against Mateusz Gamrot. Despite Gaethje's preference for other opponents, several potential replacements declined due to weight-cutting concerns or scheduling conflicts. The fight is crucial for both fighters: Gaethje aims to rebound from a recent knockout loss to Max Holloway, while Fiziev looks to break a two-fight losing streak. This matchup serves as a pivotal opportunity for Gaethje to re-enter title contention and for Fiziev to regain momentum in the division. The March 8 card will be headlined by Alex Pereira defending his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev.