Gaethje leaves Fiziev a bloodied mess after winning UFC 286 thriller

JUSTIN GAETHJE left Rafael Fiziev’s face in a bloodied mess after winning their UFC 286 thriller on points.

The lightweight brawlers lived up to expectations in the co-main event in London, treating the fans to three brutal rounds.

But it was Gaethje who edged out a majority decision after two judges scored it 29-28 in his favour with another tieing the two.

Fiziev was bloodied and marked up in defeat while Gaethje charged on to his second win in four fights.

The American landed 66 significant head trikes with a 49 per cent accuracy and joked of finally going for a takedown.

Gaethje said: “I got my takedown, everyone can shut the f*** up now. Not the fans, not the fans. The critics, I love you guys.”

Fiziev, 30, was on a six-fight win streak before running into Gaethje.

Now the former lightweight title challenger – who lose to UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020 – wants another shot at the belt.

He said: “These guys are young, hungry that’s a dangerous guy right there. But I ain’t going to be around much longer.

“I’m trying one more run at the title.”