UFC 313 suffered a little more than a week when Hooker then withdrew from the Must-see Co-Main event.
Of all the fights that the UFC has announced so far until 2025, the lightweight collision jumped on 8 March between Hooker and Justin Gaethje of the page.
With 'The Hangman' out because of a hand injury, various potential opponents put their hands on to go in and face Gaethje, including Rafael Fiziev.
The replacement has since been confirmed with Gaethje opposite Fiziev in a rematch in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
A man who is not happy with the new matchup is another man who tried to secure the fight but was not chosen on this occasion.
Mateusz Gamrot says that the UFC has gone with the 'easier choice' for Justin Gaethje on UFC 313
When looking at the potential options to face Justin Gaethje, Rafael Fiziev tapped different compartments for UFC 313.
'Ataman' may not be the same blood and guts that is hooker then, but he has history with Gaethje and if their upcoming Rematch is something like their fight at UFC 286 in London (who won Gaethje through a majority decision), we are in for a large Co-Main event.
It was also clear that Fiziev would be ready and would be able to board the 31-year-old striker who regularly called opponents, so that he could make his long-awaited return to the Octagon after he had been eliminated since September 2023 due to an injury.
The man with whom he was confronted in his last outing was Mateusz Gamrot with their main event bolt on the UFC Apex who ended prematurely when Fiziev sustained a leg injury in the second round, giving the Polish competition the victory.
Gamrot also put his name in the mix to face Gaethje on March 8, while he returns from his split decisions to Hooker on UFC 305 in August.
In a message on social media where he responded to the news, 'gamer' claimed that the UFC went with the “easier” option for Gaethje to place him against a striker instead of a grappler.
“An easier choice stylistic. Strikers have always feared for wrestlers. I stay in excellent condition and I am ready for everyone! “
Easier choice stylistic. Strikers have always feared for wrestlers. I stay in excellent condition and I am ready for everyone!
– Mateusz Gamrot (@Gamer_Mma) 27 February 2025
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Fiziev, who publicly stated in the past that he wanted a rematch with Gamrot, called this in his response to the comments of his former opponent.
“Nobody fears you. You are the one who rejected our Rematch on 1 February ”
There is some truth in what Mateusz Gamrot claimed
Although the debate about whether the UFC has chosen a “easier” fight for Justin Gaethje on UFC 313, Mateusz Gamrot is right about one thing.
The promotion probably went with Rafael Fiziever instead of his fighting style that we have already seen well with 'the highlight'.
It cannot be denied that Gamrot is a legitimate lightweight candidate, but his wrestling approach may not have ensured the best spectacle on March 8.
Only a few days ago fans were expected to see a total striking war between Gaethje and then Hooker, so giving a completely stylistic matchup would not have made up for it.
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