UFC 286 results: Justin Gaethje bleeds Rafael Fiziev and ousts majority decision

LONDON – Justin Gaethje recovered late to dodge Rafael Fiziev.

Gaethje (24-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) ended Fiziev’s (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) winning streak by earning a majority decision win on Saturday. The lightweight bout was the co-main event of UFC 286 at The O2 in London.

Gaethje was given rounds 2 and 3 by one judge, and a second gave him rounds 1 and 3. The third judge gave Fiziev rounds 1 and 2, but gave Gaethje a 10-8 in round 3, resulting in a tie on his score card led.

Early in the first round, Fiziev fired with a body kick, but Gaethje’s first leg kick drew a huge reaction from Fiziev. Fiziev pressed and kept attacking the body. Both men threw heavy leather and landed. Gaethje fired for a takedown but Fiziev was smart. To finish the round, Fiziev landed a big knee up.

Fiziev landed two large body shots to start the second round. An accidental eye poke from Gaethje caused a momentary halt to the action. Gaethje went up with a headbutt that was partially blocked. Gaethje then went deep with another hard leg kick followed by a lightning fast combination of punches. Fiziev’s body punches began to pile up as he threw more at a higher speed.

In the final round, Fiziev landed a big right hand followed by a left hook that connected cleanly but Gaethje ate it. Gaethje landed a left hook and fired for a takedown that Fiziev stuffed. Gaethje then landed two stiff jabs as a mouse formed under Fiziev’s eye. Gaethje’s exit increased significantly, but Fiziev countered with a short shot from the left. Gaethje began dealing serious damage to a bloodied Fiziev by landing an uppercut followed by a takedown to end the fight.

Gaethje returned to the victory column after being submitted by Charles Oliveira in a lightweight title fight at UFC 274 last May. Meanwhile, Fiziev saw his six-fight winning streak come to an end.

The lightweight bout was the co-main event of UFC 286 at The O2 in London.

Recent UFC 286 results include:

Justin Gaethje defeated. Rafael Fiziev by majority vote (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)
Gunnar Nelson defeated. Bryan Barberena via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:51
Defeated Jennifer Maia. Casey O’Neill by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Marvin Vettori defeated. Roman Dolidze by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Jack Shore defeated. Makwan Amirkhani via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:27
Chris Duncan defeated. Omar Morales by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
Yanal Ashmoz defeated. Sam Patterson via KO (punches) – Round 1, 1:15
Muhammad Mokaev defeated. Jafel Filho via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 3, 4:32
Defeated Lerone Murphy. Gabriel Santos via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Christian Duncan defeated. Dusko Todorovic via TKO (injury) – Round 1, 1:52
Jake Hadley defeated. Malcolm Gordon via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:01
Joanne Wood defeated. Luana Carolina by split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
Jai Herbert vs. Ludovit Klein declared majority tie (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
Defeated Veronica Hardy. Juliana Miller by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)