Justin Gaethje Aiming for Lightweight Title After UFC 313 Victory

LAS VEGAS – The highly anticipated weigh-ins for UFC 313 took place on Friday at the UFC Apex, where fighters faced off one final time before their matchups on Saturday. This event showcases a total of 13 scheduled bouts, including a featured fight between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev.

Gaethje, who entered UFC 313 with aspirations of earning a shot at the lightweight title currently held by Islam Makhachev, delivered a thrilling performance, securing a hard-fought victory over Fiziev. The clash at T-Mobile Arena was recognized as the Fight of the Night, further solidifying Gaethje’s bid for a title opportunity.

In the lead-up to the fight, Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) expressed confidence that a win would lead to title consideration, despite facing a lower-ranked opponent after Dan Hooker withdrew due to a hand injury. UFC President Dana White acknowledged Gaethje’s position post-fight, stating, “He’s still the No. 3-ranked guy in the world, so the odds of him getting a title shot are pretty good.”

If granted a title shot, this would mark Gaethje’s third attempt to claim the undisputed championship, having previously lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020 and Charles Oliveira in 2022. Despite a setback in 2024, where he suffered a Knockout of the Year defeat against Max Holloway, Gaethje has bounced back, winning three of his last four fights.

Should he be given the opportunity against Makhachev, Gaethje would move ahead of both Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan in the official UFC rankings. Additionally, there are speculations regarding Ilia Topuria possibly challenging for the lightweight title in his debut at that weight.

For continued updates on the UFC 313 card and fight results, fans can visit MMA Junkie’s event hub and engage with other mixed martial arts enthusiasts through their page and channel.