Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Justin Gaethje (red gloves) reacts during his fight with Rafael Fiziev (not pictured) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

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Justin Gaethje’s Opponent Revealed UFC 313 Co-Main Event Gets Saved By Much Anticipated Rematch!

UFC 313 co-main event fighter Justin Gaethje gets a new high profile opponent after Dan Hooker withdrew from the fight!

Fight fans know the drill. Injuries happen, fighters pull out, and events get reshuffled. It’s part of the chaotic beauty of combat sports. When news broke that Dan Hooker had fractured his hand, many fighters volunteered. These include Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano, both losing their last fight to Islam Makhachev for the title.

The UFC matchmakers also didn’t waste time finding a replacement for the UFC 313 co-main event. They strived to find a replacement in less than two weeks notice and they delivered a banger!

Also Read: UFC News: Two Major Title Fights Reportedly Scheduled For UFC 316

Justin Gaethje’s Rematch

Justin Gaethje, the man known as “The Highlight,” will now face Rafael Fiziev in a rematch that has fight fans buzzing with excitement. Their first encounter at UFC 286 in London two years ago was an absolute war that earned both men Fight of the Night honors and fat $50,000 bonuses.

Gaethje emerged victorious that night, which eventually led him to a BMF title shot against Dustin Poirier. He then fought against Max Holloway at UFC 300 a fight that unfortunately ended with Gaethje on the wrong end of one of the most spectacular knockouts in UFC history.

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This rematch couldn’t come at a better time for both fighters. Gaethje hasn’t competed since that devastating loss to Holloway last April. He is hungry to prove he still belongs among the lightweight elite. At 35, ‘The Highlight’ knows his championship window is closing, but he remains one of the few top contenders who hasn’t yet faced current champion Islam Makhachev. This is a fact that makes this fight particularly significant for his title aspirations.

Rafael Fiziev, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back from his own setback. After his loss to Gaethje snapped an impressive six-fight winning streak, the technical striker from Kazakhstan made a quick return against Mateusz Gamrot but suffered a leg injury that forced him to stop the fight. Now fully recovered, Fiziev jumped at the opportunity when Hooker withdrew.

Dana White’s Announcement

The UFC didn’t hesitate to make it official. Dana White confirmed the new co-main event for March 8 in Las Vegas during an Instagram live session, saying,

“The new co-main event for March 8 in Las Vegas is going to be Gaethje vs Fiziev. I don’t know how much I’ve got to sell Gaethje for you! Before his last fight Fiziev had six straight performance bonuses including his first fight with Gaethje.”

Dana White announces new #UFC313 Co-Main Event Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev.

Also, added to #UFC314: Jean Silva vs. Bryce Mitchell. pic.twitter.com/e4o5hr0GDC
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) February 27, 2025

For hardcore fight fans, this matchup represents everything that makes MMA so thrilling. Gaethje brings his trademark chaos and pressure, willing to eat a shot to deliver one of his own, while Fiziev offers technical precision and devastating kickboxing. Their styles mesh perfectly to create the kind of firefight that has casual viewers becoming lifelong fans!

(Image Credit: Per Haljestam – Imagn Images)

Dan Hooker

Justin Gaethje

Rafael Fiziev

UFC 313

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!