MMA News Roundup: Rafael Fiziev Has a Horrible Night at UFC Vegas 79; Charles Oliveira Receives a Bold Callout From UFC Star; Khamzat Chimaev Renounces Swedish Citizenship Ahead of Paulo Costa Fight at UFC 294

Keeping up with the ever-dynamic world of MMA is no easy task, but fear not. Our daily MMA news roundup is here to ensure you’re in the loop with the latest updates from the past 24 hours.

Today, we delve into the aftermath of the UFC Vegas 79 event, which left Rafael Fiziev disheartened after a gruesome injury to his knee. Then we will move on to his rival Mateusz Gamrot’s bold callout to UFC’s lightweight star Charles ‘Do Bronx’ Oliveira. We will conclude the round-up with a surprising move by UFC’s unbeaten welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev. But before we get into all that, let’s figure out what transpired at the UFC Vegas 79 event that has fans buzzing.

UFC Vegas 79 turns into a nightmare for Rafael Fiziev

Fans eagerly anticipated Rafael Fiziev’s return to the octagon after his UFC 286 loss to Justin Gaethje, hoping he would reclaim his winning streak against Mateusz Gamrot. However, what transpired was beyond expectations.

In a pivotal lightweight bout, Mateusz Gamrot secured a significant win against Rafael Fiziev. However, this victory came with an unfortunate twist.

The fight between Gamrot and Fiziev started with the expected intensity, but a turning point arrived approximately two minutes into the second round. Fiziev unleashed a right-leg kick, only to suffer an unexpected knee injury via his rival’s elbow block. As expected, Gamrot seized this opportunity with punches, leading referee Herb Dean to intervene and stop the fight.

Read More: “Beat That A**”: Stipe Miocic Predicts a Grim Night for Jon Jones Ahead of Their Fight at UFC 295

But there’s still some hope for Fiziev. Post-fight, Fiziev shared an Instagram update from the medical facility, humorously acknowledging the unique world of combat sports. He remarked, “Look, everybody here, what a business yeah, what a business guys, the best business in the world. Everybody here…”

Charles Oliveira receives a bold callout from UFC Vegas 79 star Mateusz Gamrot

Mateusz Gamrot showcased his undeniable skills and prowess during the first half of his fight against Fiziev, but a TKO by injury wasn’t his anticipated victory. During the post-fight interview, Gamrot revealed, “To be honest, when I prepared for this fight, my goal was that my defense would be better than his kick… A win is a win. I won tonight, and I’m looking forward to the next one.”

What’s more – in an unexpected twist, Gamrot dropped a bombshell as he called out UFC’s lightweight star Charles Oliveira. He stated, “My dream fight, of course, is champ Islam Makhachev… for the next fight. [So] I would like to challenge myself against the most dangerous ground fighter, Charles Oliveira.” Meanwhile, ‘Do Bronx’ already has a lot on his plate, with his fated clash with lightweight champ Islam Makhachev just a couple of weeks away.

Undefeated UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev renounces Swedish citizenship

Khamzat Chimaev, aka ‘Borz,’ known for his formidable fighting skills, has been absent from the octagon for nearly a year. However, he’s now gearing up for his upcoming showdown against Paulo Costa in Abu Dhabi on October 21. Surprisingly, in a noteworthy development, Chimaev, who previously represented Sweden, has obtained UAE citizenship, signaling a significant shift in his affiliation. This move marks his debut as a fighter representing the UAE.

According to rumors, the shift in ‘Borz’s citizenship may be a result of the brewing political tensions in Sweden. Reportedly, Chimaev is now distasteful to sharing roots with a country whose freedom of expression laws are clashing with his respect for his religion.

However, with UAE citizenship in hand, Chimaev’s upcoming UFC fight raises a crucial question: Will he etch his name in history as the first fighter to represent the UAE in the UFC? Only time will tell.

What do you think of these developments in your beloved fight game? Do you side with ‘Borz’ for his decision? And what do you make of Gamrot’s callout to ‘Do Bronx’ in the aftermath of his win over Fiziev? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

Watch this story: Is the Khamzat Chimaev vs Paulo Costa Fight Happening on UFC 294?