Rafael Fiziev’s latest setback is a familiar one.
The lightweight contender sustained yet another knee injury, which forced him out of a scheduled UFC Fight Night main event bout with Charles Oliveira.
“Many people asking me why I’m out of the fight. I injured my knee again but (thank God) I don’t need to do surgery,” Fiziev said in a video posted to social media.
Fiziev explained it’s the same knee he previously injured that kept him out of action for a year and a half.
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The 32-year-old who represents Azerbaijan tore his left ACL during a September 2023 matchup with Mateusz Gamrot. That injury required surgery and he didn't return to the cage until early in 2025.
In fact, Fiziev has had his left knee operated on multiple times but this latest injury only requires rest and rehabilitation, according to the fighter.
“I have to heal up right now,” Fiziev added. “A couple of months and I come back to the fight. I wish to fight in Brazil. This is my dream fight, but I already have a couple of surgeries in my knee and it’s a big risk to go in with my injured knee right now to fight. It’s a big risk (to have a) third surgery on the same knee. That’s not good. I have to heal up, guys.”
Fiziev snapped a losing streak in June at UFC Baku with a decision win over Ignacio Bahamondes.
Somewhat ironically, it ended up being Gamrot who was chosen to replace Fiziev and face Oliveira on short notice at the Oct. 11 event in Rio de Janeiro.
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