Raphael Fiziev would face Charles of the Bronx at UFC Rio. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Scheduled to star in UFC Rio in the edition that took place last Saturday (11), Charles of the Bronx ended up having a setback during preparation for the fight, when he was told that Raphael Fiziev could no longer fight due to a knee injury. Among several names considered, Mateusz gamrot, currently ranked eighth in the lightweight rankings (up to 70,3 kg), ended up being chosen to fight in the Marvelous City.
Keeping an eye on the situation, Alexander Volkanovsky, who is Fiziev's training partner when he travels to Thailand, did not hesitate to state that the Brazilian was blessed with a change of opponents, due to the lower risk of being knocked out in the octagon.
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"I thought the fight against Gamrot was a much better matchup of styles for him than against Rafa. When I heard he was coming back so quickly after a heavy knockout (and being one) against Rafa, like three months later, I didn't think it was a good idea, especially against a guy like that. Gamrot was a better option because he doesn't pose as much of a knockout risk," Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel.
Following his speech, the featherweight champion (up to 65,7 kg) admitted that the scenario would have been more difficult if Do Bronx had actually faced Fiziev in the main fight of the event.
"(...) but with Rafa, the problem is deeper. Rafa is explosive in transitions, he's good in scrambles, and I would definitely hit him. Then it would depend on whether his chin could handle it. That's why I thought it would be a much tougher fight if it were against Rafa," he concluded.
At the time of the cancellation, Fiziev stated that, as much as he considered it his dream fight, he could not risk seriously injuring himself again and being forced to undergo third knee surgery.
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