Rafael Fiziev considers SHOCK move to featherweight after INS*NE Justin Gaethje fight admission

Rafael Fiziev and Justin Gaethje went toe to toe for the second time in the co-main event of UFC 313. As expected, the fight was an action-packed showdown, with ‘The Highlight’ securing a unanimous decision victory. Fiziev, having endured a serious beatdown, now plans to make major changes for his future.

Fiziev took the fight on short notice, and came into the bout after a huge hiatus due to knee injury. Before the fight, he thanked Gaethje for the opportunity and expected revenge. However, it didn’t turn out his way, and the Azerbaijan national wants to move down to the featherweight division. 

Fiziev explained that cutting weight was too easy for him and his nutritionist was actually preventing him from losing more weight. According to the fighter, he was 161 lbs on the day of fighting which is comparatively low for a lightweight. Recently, at UFC 311, top lightweight Renato Moicano confirmed that he weighed 181 lbs and Islam Makhachev was at 178 lbs. 

Rafael Fiziev shares he is contemplating a move to featherweight 👀

"I'm start to think about changing weight divisions because I cut weight very easy this time, and this was short notice.

These guys have trouble if I come there. They'll be in trouble, man, everybody." pic.twitter.com/nazMkE3nw9

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 11, 2025

Normally, fighters cut around 25-30 lbs to make weight for their respective weight class. At UFC 313, former light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira cut 22 pounds before his fight. It seems like after ballooning up, Fiziev always remains disadvantaged while fighting others. He even mentioned that Gaethje looked too big for him at the fight.

Justin Gaethje needs to up his promotional game 

Justin Gaethje delivered what he promised at UFC 313, and won the fight convincingly. With the win, the American fighter has now bounced back from his loss against Max Holloway at UFC 300. With only a few more fights in his tank, the Arizona native is eager to get his third title shot. 

Gaethje recently tweeted where he explained why he deserves to fight the pound-for-pound ace Islam Makhachev in a title bout. However, many fans and experts don’t think it’s the right call for UFC as there are more deserving fighters. UFC veteran and Gaethje’s teammate, Kamaru Usman, also talked about this situation and shared a great suggestion for the fighter. 

In the last few weeks, Makhachev had talked about his intentions to fight Gaethje, given he has already defeated other top candidates. Apart from Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan, Ilia Topuria is the next big name for the title contention. It would be interesting to see whether Gaethje gets what he wants from the promotion.

UFC lightweight division is stacked, featherweight might bode well for Rafael Fiziev 

The UFC lightweight division has always been stacked because the fighters have the perfect balance of speed, power, and endurance. A deep global talent pool ensures constant competition, as 155 lbs is a natural weight class for many elite martial artists. Throughout its history, it has seen some legendary champions like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Frankie Edgar, Charles Oliveira, and BJ Penn.  

Their lineage has consistently raised the division’s standards, forcing contenders to improve. The current roster has followed the same trend, and with the addition of Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway, fans are even interested. As such, Fiziev moving down to featherweight could be a great opportunity for the elite striker to attain championship gold. It remains to be seen if featherweight is Fiziev’s destination.

Related: Rafael Fiziev Net Worth, Endorsements, UFC contract, Wife and House

Stay Updated!

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.

Subscribe NOW