Justin Gaethje v Rafael Fiziev 2 free tips, predictions & odds

Adam Catterall previews this weekend's UFC 313 co-main event as Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev get set to share the octagon for a second time in Las Vegas.

Justin Gaethje v Rafael Fiziev 2 Tips

Rafael Fiziev - By Decision / Technical Decision @ 9/4

This weekend's co-main event between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev in Las Vegas could actually be even more compelling than the bill-topping, light-heavyweight title showdown.

Of course, we are gutted that Dan Hooker is not involved in this fight, taking on Justin Gaethje - he got injured and had to pull out at just two weeks notice.

But the man that has stepped up is well worthy of this shot, even though he hasn't fought for about 15 months now.

These boys have danced before and the first time that they did, it was absolutely sensational - Justin Gaethje v Rafael Fiziev 2 is a true fight for the fans.

In London, the last time they fought, Fiziev started superbly, taking the first round, before Gaethje turned up the heat - the fight was tremendous from start to finish and Gaethje won on points in what was potentially his finest technical performance inside a UFC octagon.

A lot has happened since then, from a Fiziev perspective he has had reconstruction surgery on his knee, he didn't fight at all in 2024 with all three of his scheduled opponents pulling out, so he will be fired up for this one.

What has happened to Gaethje since?

Well we know he was sensational the last time he took on Fiziev, but last April, against Max Holloway, he was comprehensively beaten for 24 minutes and 59 seconds of that fight, before his knockout in the very last second.

That had never happened before, he always has success at certain points of the fight, but on that occasion he had zero success, even though he can now claim to be the first man to knockout Max Holloway.

He is killer be killed, and I think he will be less conservative coming into this fight, if that is at all possible - he will come out all guns blazing, looking for the kill right from the off, but i don't feel that will necessarily be to his advantage.

There are so many questions to be answered here, but I have a sneaky feeling that Fiziev will nick the fight, and avenge his UFC 286 defeat, on points!

All odds were correct and available at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal and fluctuation.

Adam Catterall

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