It looks like we might not be seeing Rafael Fiziev in action for the rest of the year.
Fiziev, following his 5th round TKO win over Rafael Dos Anjos is expected to be out for the next 4 to 5 months following nose surgery. This news was first reported by Ariel Helwani.
Justin Gaethje, an opponent that Fiziev called out is also expected to have nose surgery and to remain out for several months. Here is what Gaethje said about his goal for his final shot at gold.
“I’m going to get nose surgery July 14,” said Gaethje. “Take a good month to recover and get back to work. I think end of the year, most likely early next year. There’s a few fights that are going to happen, so I’ll let those happen. I want to clear two [or] three fight path back to the title fight. I want to earn it, like I should, but I have a great manager, so I’m not worried about it too much. I’ll be ready to fight.
“I’ve been waiting for 13 years for someone in MMA to break my nose and it hasn’t happened,” continued Gaethje. “I broke it in wrestling practice 13 years ago, and life’s been hell since then. I have to wear a nose drip to bed every single night. Eating, sleeping, living, training, fighting. I’m not sure. I don’t even know what my f—king voice sounds like. I’ve been waiting for a long time to get this broken. No one has done it, so I’m going to do it myself and give it one last run towards the title.”
