Rafael Fiziev’s UFC career has taken an unexpected turn following his latest fight inside the Octagon. Despite coming in on short notice, the Azerbaijani striker had another fantastic performance against Justin Gaethje at UFC 313 but fell short on the judges’ scorecards. Despite receiving a ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus, Fiziev’s second consecutive loss to Gaethje has dented his lightweight title chances. Instead of being fixated on the setback, ‘Ataman’ has announced a significant move that has Dana White on high alert. But what is the move?
Rafael Fiziev told Ariel Helwani after the bout that he is seriously considering changing weight classes. The 32-year-old revealed that his UFC 313 weight cut was so simple that his nutritionist had to make him gain weight rather than reduce it. “I really cut weight very easy this time,” Fiziev revealed. “All this week, my nutritionist was trying to make me gain weight because my weight dropped so fast.” So, it looks like for the first time in his career, ‘Ataman’ is considering moving to a different division.
A shift away from lightweight would be a radical move, but Rafael Fiziev isn’t ruling it out. Despite his losses to Gaethje, he remains one of the UFC’s most fearsome strikers, with victories over Rafael dos Anjos and Brad Riddell cementing his reputation. However, with the lightweight title picture drifting further away, ‘Ataman’ sees a new challenge ahead—one in which he believes he can cause havoc from the moment he enters. “These guys will be in trouble if I come there,” he said.
While the move is not yet official, it has already caused shockwaves in the UFC. Head honcho Dana White now has a critical decision: does he allow one of the most exciting lightweight fighters to take on a brand-new challenge? Well, he should. Especially considering how much excitement the fighter can bring to the division that has yet to find itself a champion.
Why Dana White would promote Rafael Fiziev’s move to featherweight
Rafael Fiziev‘s possible switch to featherweight is not only significant for him; the UFC CEO, Dana White, would totally support it. With Ilia Topuria leaving the division for lightweight after a knockout victory over Max Holloway at UFC 308, the featherweight category has lost a rising talent. The forthcoming title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes at UFC 314 will crown a new champion, but the division also requires new contenders. ‘Ataman,’ with his thrilling fighting style and successful track record at lightweight, would provide much-needed star power.
The UFC’s decision to promote Rafael Fiziev’s move makes business and competitive sense. If he joins the featherweight rankings and wins a significant fight over a top name like Movsar Evloev, Brian Ortega, or Arnold Allen, he might be quickly promoted to a title bout. ‘Ataman’ would be an easy sell as a challenger, making him a valuable asset for the UFC. Meanwhile, with Patricio Pitbull and Yair Rodriguez also competing at UFC 314, the division is in the midst of a huge shake-up, and Rafael Fiziev’s arrival may add to the intrigue.
However, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. So, it is possible that Dana White might also refuse the request, considering that weight cutting is always a risk and moving down a division doesn’t always guarantee success. This would mean losing a major money-making star to a rash decision. However, Rafael Fiziev has revealed that his weight loss for UFC 313 was surprisingly easy, implying that a reduction to 145 pounds is possible. If he makes the move seamlessly, Dana White will have every reason to promote him as a new featherweight contender, producing new matchups and keeping the division alive with action. What do you think? Will we get to see ‘Ataman’ in the featherweight division anytime soon? Let us know in the comments.
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