That’s because lightweight contender Rafael Fiziev has been knocked out of commission due to injury and will be unable to compete on next month’s UFC Rio card. This is according to a recent report by AG Fight, with MMAmania.com able to independently confirm the news as well.
UFC matchmakers will reportedly “make mountains move” in order to find a replacement for Fiziev, who was scheduled to fight former UFC lightweight champion and Brazilian superstar, Charles Oliveira, in the main event. After all, this was supposed to be Oliveira’s first fight on Brazilian soil since a 2020 submission win over Kevin Lee.
Oliveira, who remains one of the biggest stars in the sport today, is coming off a brutal knockout loss to Ilia Topuria back at UFC 317 earlier this year (watch it HERE). “Do Bronx” was hoping to get back into the 155-pound win column in front of his home crowd, but now he’ll await another opponent. It remains to be seen who that will be, but maybe Renato “Money” Moicano will step up on short notice for another payday.
As for Fiziev, this is a tough break for the lightweight striker since he’s gone just 1-3 in his last four trips to the Octagon. He’ll have to regroup and try to redeem himself in 2026.
UFC Rio will go down on Oct. 11 LIVE on ESPN+ from inside Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The card will hopefully still feature Oliveira in the main event, as well as other Brazilian standouts like Deiveson Figueiredo, Vicente Luque, Gabriel Bonfim, and heavyweight submission specialist, Valter Walker.
For more UFC Rio fight card news click HERE.
