UFC Fight Night 228: Rafael Fiziev vs Mateusz Gamrot 09/23/2023 Fight Picks, Predictions and Preview

UFC Fight Night 228: Fiziev vs Gamrot 09/23/2023 – Rafael Fiziev and Mateuzs Gamrot lock horns in a five-round lightweight encounter on Saturday, September 23, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The match is the main event of the loaded UFC Fight Night 228 card that will be televised on ESPN+ beginning at 7:00 PM ET. UFC Fight Pass will feature the card via livestream. The clash is between two of the top 10 contenders in the 155-pound class and it will have a significant implication to the division moving forward. Fiziev looks to bounce back from a majority decision loss to Justin Gaethje while Gamrot seeks to follow up on his split decision win over Jalin Turner. Online UFC odds are already updated for MMA fans who want to watch an exciting clash and earn extra money at the same time.

Tweets by ufc

Main Card

Rafael Fiziev

Fiziev (12-2, 6-2 UFC) has become one of the most exciting prospects in the 155-pound category. He won six of his first seven matches in the UFC, with three coming by way of knockout. Among his most notable victories was against former UFC champion Rafael dos Anjos. Fiziev struck dos Anjos with a haymaker in the opening minutes of the fifth round to secure a KO victory that moved him up the UFC lightweight rankings. However, he hit a brick wall in March as he absorbed a majority decision defeat to Justin Gaethje. The loss broke the Azerbaijani fighter’s six-match winning streak. He comes into the fight with a two-inch height disadvantage that he hopes to overcome with his uncanny ability to knock out foes.

Fiziev has nine finishes in 14 fights with eight coming by KO. The 30-year-old fighter has one submission victory and three decision wins in his credit. His losses were by knockout and decision. He normally lasts long in fights with an average fight time of 12 minutes and 16 seconds. The switch-hitting fighter has averaged 5.06 strikes landed per minute and has an accuracy of 51%. His defense percentage is 48% and has absorbed 5.17 strikes per minute. In terms of grappling, “Ataman” has averaged 0.31 takedowns per 15 minutes. He has a 40% takedown success rate and has stopped 90% of the takedown attempts launched against him. He has yet to connect a submission attempt in his UFC career.

Mateusz Gamrot

Gamrot (22-2, 1 NC; 5-2 UFC) has fought brilliantly in the UFC, going 5-2 in his first seven fights. After losing his first UFC match against Guram Kutateladze, Gamrot has picked up wins over Scott Holtzman, Jeremy Stephens, Diego Ferreira and Arman Tsarukyan. He tried to make it five in a row against Beneil Dariush in October 2022 but lost via unanimous decision. The Polish fighter known as “Gamer” returned to the octagon four months later and defeated Jalin Turner via split decision. The 32-year-old comes into the fight with a two-inch height advantage but had a one-inch disadvantage in reach.

Gamrot has recorded 12 finishes in his 22 wins with 10 coming by decision, seven by knockout and five by submission. The southpaw has an average fight time of 12 minutes and 16 seconds in his seven fights in the UFC. The Polish fighter has landed an average of 3.03 strikes per minute and has an accuracy rate of 51%. He has absorbed 3.23 strikes per minute and has defended 60% of the strikes that his foes attempted. Gamrot has taken advantage of his grappling skills by averaging 4.54 takedowns per 15 minutes. However, his propensity for takedowns has affected his accuracy, as he has a 31% takedown rate in his seven UFC outings. His takedown defense is outstanding at 90% and has attempted 0.2 submissions per 15 minutes.

Fiziev and Gamrot will fight for a chance to ascend the lightweight rankings and move closer to a possible UFC title opportunity. Gamrot and Fiziev are your classic grappler vs striker matchup that is expected to generate non-stop action, especially that both fighters will try to attempt their styles on each other. Fiziev boasts a superior UFC record and has performed well against Gaethje and dos Anjos.

However, Gamrot is a good grappler who could muscle out a takedown and put Fiziev on the ground. Fiziev’s favoritism in online MMA betting stems from his power and endurance in quality bouts. Yet, Gamrot aims to disrupt plans by defeating his Azerbaijani rival, climbing the rankings, and securing more lucrative future fights. Be sure to check the latest odds and place your bets at the best online sportsbook to make the most of this exciting matchup.