"I like it, but I already got the fight" - Explosive UFC lightweight responds after being called out by Khamzat Chimaev's former teammate
Khamzat Chimaev's former teammate Rafael Fiziev is coming off two consecutive losses to Mateusz Gamrot and Justin Gaethje. In his last bout against the former at UFC Vegas 79, Fiziev tore his ACL in the second round.
Recently, the No. 11-ranked lightweight was called out by Guram Kutateladze. In a post on X, the Georgian suggested that 'Ataman' doesn’t have an opponent as nobody wants to face him in the octagon. Kutateladze proposed that he could be the Azerbaijani mixed martial artist's next opponent.
'Georgian Viking' wrote:
"Салам, Рафаэль. I got informed by management, that @RafaelFiziev does not have an opponent and nobody wants to fight him. Stylistic wise this is the match-up @ufc and fight fans love to see. Plus, this can be fight of the year. February 1st in Saudi Arabia."
Khamzat Chimaev's former teammate at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Thailand responded to the post and cleared up any confusion, making it unlikely that a fight with 'Georgian Viking' will happen next.
He wrote:
"I like it, but I already got the fight."
Kutateladze has a professional MMA record of 13-4. He last fought Jordan Vucenic and won by unanimous decision.
Khamzat Chimaev's former teammate Rafael Fiziev eyes a comeback
Rafael Fiziev tore his ACL in the second round of his main event fight at UFC Vegas 79 against Mateusz Gamrot. Since then, he has been sidelined.
He recently informed his supporters that he has recovered from his injury and is cleared to fight again.
In an interview with MMA Fighting, he said:
"Oh, recovery [has been] going good, Straight away after the fight I [had] the surgery. So now it’s almost one year, and my knee is good. It’s going good, second time is like a little bit [slower] than the first time. But, yeah, that’s good. It’s still good now, I’m feeling good."
When questioned about potential opponents for his comeback fight, the No. 11-ranked lightweight responded:
“I want to fight Beneil [Dariush] because he also [hasn’t had a fight in a] long time, and I think, also you have to show to the fans and show to everybody, [if he deserves] his place or not — and also, me too... Also, Hooker. He [talked] a bit about me like a few times...I just want to come back and I want to fight. The [perfect fights] are Hooker and Beneil.”
Other than Dan Hooker and Beneil Dariush, Gamrot is also a potential opponent 'Ataman' has in mind.
Watch Rafael Fiziev's interview with MMA Fighting below: