It’ll be a while before UFC lightweight standout Rafael Fiziev is back in the octagon.
In a video posted to Instagram on Monday, Fiziev told his followers that he tore his ACL during his second-round injury TKO loss to Mateusz Gamrot in the UFC Fight Night 228 headliner. Fiziev didn’t provide a timetable for his return; a typical recovery from a torn ACL is at least eight months.
“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. … We have plans, but God has different plans. His plan is always the best.”
Fiziev (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) suffered the injury on his plant (left) leg as he threw a body kick with his right that was blocked by Gamrot. Fiziev immediately fell to the canvas in pain, allowing Gamrot to rush him with punches that forced referee Herb Dean to stop the fight at the 2:03 mark of Round 2.
It was an unfortunate way for Fiziev to pick up his second consecutive defeat following a March loss to Justin Gaethje by majority decision at UFC 286. Prior to his two losses this year, Fiziev was on a six-fight winning streak that dated back to October 2019.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 228.
