Justin Gaethje isn’t alone in thinking he got snubbed for a title shot at UFC 317.
The #3-ranked UFC Lightweight contender was one of a few enticing options for the undefeated Ilia Topuria at this year’s International Fight Week on June 28th.
Gaethje has won three out of his last four fights and the former BMF titleholder thought he was next for the title after defeating Rafael Fiziev a second time at UFC 313.
However, the UFC ultimately went another direction, enlisting former champion Charles Oliveira to fight Topuria in the UFC 317 main event.
Gaethje’s last opponent Fiziev has weighed in on the title shot not going to ‘The Highlight’.
Rafael Fiziev says Justin Gaethje deserves next title shot
A talented Muay Thai striker, Fiziev gave Gaethje some of his toughest fights in the Octagon.
Gaethje was able to get through Fiziev twice at UFC 286 and UFC 313, knocking out former interim champion Dustin Poirier in between fights. Gaethje was also KO’ed himself by Max Holloway at UFC 300 in April 2024.
Still, Fiziev says Gaethje, not Oliveira, should’ve been next for the lightweight title at UFC 317.
“He deserves the title shot for sure,” Fiziev told MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck.
“Not because he just beat me.
“If not him, who deserves the title shot?” Fiziev added.
“He’s stayed on top a long time. [For a] long time, he’s stayed in the top-3.
“He just lost to Max [Holloway]. I think he deserves this and if he gets [the winner of Topuria vs. Oliveira], I’m happy for him,” Fiziev said.
Rafael Fiziev attempts to bounce back from three-fight losing skid at UFC Baku
The #11-ranked UFC Lightweight, Fiziev, has seen better days in the UFC.
Once on track to the UFC title with six-straight victories, Fiziev has now dropped three fights in a row with decision defeats to Gaethje and a leg injury TKO to Mateusz Gamrot.
Fiziev will face off against a game contender in Chile’s Ignacio Bahamondes in the co-main event of UFC Baku on Saturday.
Bahamondes has won six out of his last seven fights and retired top contender Jalin Turner with a first-round submission at UFC 313, the same night Gaethje and Fiziev rematched.
