One of the biggest upsets of the year struck the UFC 313 co-main event before the fight even began. Dan Hooker, set for a thrilling showdown against Justin Gaethje, was forced to withdraw due to a fractured hand. With a simple yet disappointing update—“One of the paws is not doing too well.”— ‘The Hangman’ confirmed the injury, crushing fans’ hopes for a blood-soaked affair. However, the UFC wasted no time in securing a worthy replacement. Rafael Fiziev will now face Gaethje in what promises to be a high-octane lightweight battle. Both fighters are coming in with something to prove, needing to shake off their past setbacks and get back on winning terms.

Fiziev is making his return from a knee injury suffered at UFC Vegas 79, while Gaethje enters the fight reeling from a brutal knockout loss against Max Holloway at UFC 300. Former 170lbs title challenger Dan Hardy pointed out that the former interim champ’s high-risk, brawling outing has taken a toll on his body. While speaking on Submission Radio, he said:

“You look at Gaethje’s early career and he was known as that guy who was like ‘Just bang’. They get chopped down by his leg kicks and knocked out by his heavy hands. And his [Gaethje] toughness was kind of part of the package, right? So when he came into the UFC, there was this expectation that he was going to be this guy. He almost lost that first fight, if I remember clearly.”

Hardy further elaborated on Gaethje’s evolution. He said, “And I feel like he has had a few fights where he’s actually been really quite calculated. But you got to think that damage does catch up to you. I certainly don’t think that Gaethje’s got the expectation that he could just walk through stuff anymore. I don’t those first few couple of losses in the UFC were that turning point for him.”

It seems that even former 170lbs champ Kamaru Usman agrees with this point of view. During a recent interview, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ weighed in on Gaethje’s mental state: “I think there are challenges on both sides. But when you are dealing with Justin Gaethje when you have never really been put out quite like that before [referring to UFC 300].”

The former BMF titleholder has since recovered from his brutal knockout loss at UFC 300. But one can’t help but wonder—what if things had gone differently? What if ‘The Highlight’ had knocked out Holloway instead? How would that have changed the trajectory of his career? Let’s take a look at what Gaethje himself had to say.

Justin Gaethje weighs in on a ‘what if’ scenario for his UFC 300 setback

Under the bright lights of UFC 300, Max Holloway delivered a moment etched in MMA history. Facing off against Justin Gaethje for the coveted BMF title, the Blessed Express put on a striking masterclass. The former 145lbs champ combined relentless pressure with pinpoint accuracy. But it was in the final ten seconds that Holloway truly solidified his legacy. With victory already in his grasp, he pointed to the center of the Octagon, daring Gaethje to engage in one last furious exchange. The crowd erupted as Holloway stood his ground, securing his win in spectacular fashion—a move that made him an instant fan favorite.

However, one question remains—what if Gaethje had knocked out Holloway instead? According to The Highlight himself, he had his own iconic celebration in mind. In a conversation shared by Combat Talk from Gaethje’s X account, a fan speculated that, had Gaethje won, he wouldn’t have celebrated as Holloway did.

But Gaethje had a different plan. He responded: “I was trying to do the same exact thing to him. I might have backflipped on him. There is no controlling the sudden rush of emotions.”

It seems Gaethje was just seconds away from making his own historic moment. But now, his focus is locked on UFC 313, where he aims to bounce back and return to the win column. Do you think Gaethje will reclaim his momentum in less than a week’s time? Drop your predictions in the comments below!