Mateusz Gamrot won a muted victory in the UFC Vegas 79 main event following an injury to his opponent Rafael Fiziev, who was unable to continue after suffering what appeared to be a leg injury.
Mateusz Gamrot is climbing the competitive ladder, albeit under unfortunate circumstances. During the UFC Vegas 79 main event, an unexpected injury to opposing fighter Rafael Fiziev prematurely concluded the match, leading to a bittersweet victory for Gamrot against another top-ranking lightweight. The match had met its initial hype with an adrenaline-fueled first round. But, only two minutes into the second round, Fiziev unexpectedly collapsed in pain following a high kick, leading to an anticlimactic ending.
As it occurred, it was unclear just what injury Fiziev had sustained during the match. However, it was apparent that it involved his left leg, as he was unable to continue, effectively ending the bout. Confusion permeated the scene, with Gamrot initially pouncing on his fallen opponent and celebrating his win, before realization set in about Fiziev’s distressful state.
The sudden end to the much-anticipated match came as a disappointment to their peers, who tuned in to watch the clash. Many of them could only curse the unlucky circumstances and hope for Fiziev’s speedy recovery. Many professionals expressed their sentiments on social media, as seen in a few examples below: Henry Cejudo Tweeted, “Not how you want a fight to end it was just getting good. Get well soon Fiziev”. Sodiq Yusuff shared, “Fuck that sucks man. I selfishly need to see more of this fight”. Terrance McKinney also chimed in saying, “Fuck man wishing you a speed recover brother sucks it had to end like that”.