Rafael Fiziev has been announced as Dan Hooker's replacement against Justin Gaethje in the co-main event of UFC 313 on March 8.

Justin Gaethje became the BMF when he knocked out Dustin Poirier back in the summer of 2023. Gaethje was next in line to face Islam Makhachev, but the UFC came calling and asked if he’d fight Max Holloway at UFC 300 for the BMF title.

The likes of Rafael Fiziev, Renato Moicano and Mateusz Gamrot offered to step in and replace Hooker. If it were up to Cormier, he’d like to see Gaethje fight Moicano, who’s coming off a short-notice title loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 311. Cormier says history proves that Moicano (20-6-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) is the right man for the job.