Fans claim Rafael Fiziev was awarded an early stoppage; Rafael dos Anjos disagrees
Rafael Fiziev and Rafel dos Anjos went toe-to-toe in a five-round fight in the main event of UFC Vegas 58. 'Ataman' made a resounding statement by finishing the Brazilian in the opening seconds of the fifth round by knockout.
RAFAEL FIZIEV JUST PUT RDA OUT IN ROUND FIVE #UFCVegas58 https://t.co/hW8hwiCsdT
However, the outcome of the fight did not sit well with many MMA fans as they believed the fight was stopped prematurely.
Some of the tweets by MMA fans expressing their disagreement with the result can be seen below:
Mark Smith really RDA who has been known for his great chin and hanging in there didnt even give him a chance such an early stoppage unreal #UFCVegas58
#UFC #MMATwitter #MMA
Early stoppage but he was about to get fucked up!#ufc
🤦♂️
@CiscoTMT @ufc @RafaelFiziev So first you agree that people who watch MMA have seen fighters recovered from worse...!
But then again, people who perceive this as an early stoppage "don't know mma"
Dude make up you mind...🤣 😂🤦♂️ https://t.co/cej4BlnwcO
@emilo_jah @DKSizzle @_ethannn @ufc @RafaelFiziev It WAS an early stoppage. Rda is stunned but was still defending. Stunned is not KO'd.
Obviously you've never been punched hard enough to know being stunned isn't that bad.
@ufc @RafaelFiziev An early stoppage. RDA doesn’t complain because he’s a respectful person.
@alexpechy @ufc @RafaelFiziev Nah bro it’s not like that. I saw him start to defend immediately but i get the refs perspective. Last round and Rda got rocked. Still wouldve liked to see him recover a couple seconds more before the stoppage. Still think it was a bit too early.
@Yurt1992 @ufc @RafaelFiziev Super early stoppage. Probably just UFC trying to build up the next big fighter.
@ufc @RafaelFiziev Earliest stoppage of the year is what happened
@ufc @RafaelFiziev RDA deservers a chance to recover there but great win for Fiziev
@ufc @RafaelFiziev Awful stoppage, never gave dos anjos a chance to defend him self
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling also chimed in on the matter. According to 'Funk Master', referee Mark Smith should have let the fight play out a little longer:
"Mark's usually one of the better refs but that stoppage was way too quick. Tough break. Wish we got to see if RDA could recover. Rough ending to a great fight."
Marks usually one of the better refs but that stoppage was way too quick. Tough break. Wish we got to see if RDA could recover. Rough ending to a great fight. #UFCVegas58
Idk. I feel like fighters go limp all the time and “come-to” really quick. It’s a fight, isn’t it? Take some and give some.
I do think RDA was hurt BAD, but I kinda wanted to see “if” he could recover or not. That’s the game we play tho. Game of inches. Great win Fiziev!
Despite the support from fans, dos Anjos himself does not believe the fight was called off early. The Brazilian iterated the same in a backstage interview with Charly Arnolt:
"I don't think so. I gotta re-watch the tape but I don't think so. He won fair and square."
Watch the full interview below:
Rafael Fiziev calls out Justin Gaethje for a fight
Rafael Fiziev threw a curveball at MMA fans by calling out tennis star Rafael Nadal for a fight during his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping
Your move, @RafaelNadal 😂 🎾
[ @RafaelFiziev | #UFCVegas58 ] https://t.co/29rxGQWD3J
However, during the post-fight press conference, Fiziev got serious and called out Justin Gaethje for a scrap:
"I wanna fight with Gaethje... If you're ready, if you're not scared, if you don't take s**t, let's go."
Watch the full post-fight press conference below:
Fiziev is on a six-fight win streak which includes victories over Brad Riddell, Bobby Green and Renato Moicano. Gaethje, on the other hand, is coming off a loss in a title fight against Charles Oliveira at UFC 274.
On paper, a fight between 'The Highlight' and Fiziev would make sense and would undoubtedly be a treat for MMA fans around the world.