As many observers feared, Rafael
Fiziev suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his
UFC Fight Night 228 loss to Mateusz
Gamrot.
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The lightweight contender confirmed the injury in a video on social
media. Fiziev will likely be out for up to a year during the
rehabiliation process.
“I will be back,” Fiziev said. “I’m just sad because I had a very
great camp, and I was ready to show my best skills. And I’m sad
because it happened only in the second round.
“I can get ready for a loss like that but I’m more than happy, 100
times more happy if it happens in the last round. But I believe I
could show in this fight very nice skills. We have plans, but God
has different plans. His plan is always the best.”
After a tactical opening round where Fiziev appeared to have gained
a slight advantage thanks to his striking and takedown defense, the
bout ended at the 2:03 mark of Round 2 when his left knee buckled
while throwing a body kick. The 30-year-old Kazakhstan native has
lost back-to-back fights in the Octagon following a six-bout
winning streak compiled from October 2019 to July 2022.