"Please be Dustin" - Fans play guessing game after UFC lightweight coming off an injury claims he's accepted a fight offer

Rafael Fiziev has not entered the octagon since last September when the No.11-ranked lightweight suffered a second-round TKO loss to Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Fight Night 228. The main event bout ended with him tearing his ACL, leading him to spend more than a year sidelined recovering from the injury. 'Ataman' recently revealed that he has accepted a fight and is waiting to hear back.

Fiziev took to X on Monday, posting:

"It’s been almost 2 weeks since I accepted the date and the opponent. Still waiting to hear back. Can’t wait to get back in the octagon, it’s been too long 👊🏼"

Check out Rafael Fiziev's tweet accepting a fight below:

Championship Rounds shared Fiziev's comments, drawing plenty of reactions from fans. @levani3105 hopes Dustin Poirier will be the one to welcome him back to the octagon:

"Please be Dustin 🙏 🔥"

@PenaCartel believes there are multiple good options for 'Ataman' to face:

"Hopefully get it sorted asap, looking forward to seeing him back. Dariush, Saint Denis, Gamrot... Plenty of good options"

@scattterson is looking forward to his return:

"Can’t wait for him to get back in there. Hope his injury is fully healed and he hasn’t lost a step. 🙏"

@TheCSMatrixer expressed interest in seeing the No.11-ranked lightweight face Dan Hooker:

"Can’t wait for his return. Fiziev hasn’t fought since his injury in September 2023, but he’s a problem for anyone in the division. He’s an elite striker with power and more importantly with amazing takedown defence. Fiziev vs Hooker would be an amazing match up in early 2025"

Check out the best fan reactions below:

Fan reactions

Rafael Fiziev previously issued a call out to two lightweights

Rafael Fiziev previously expressed frustration with the lightweight division for failing to call him out. 'Ataman' had shared his interest in fighting before the end of the year while singling out two opponents he would like to face. Speaking to Mike Heck of MMA Fighting, the No.11-ranked lightweight stated:

"Why nobody called me to fight? I'm f**king No. 10 or what, No. 9, now and still nobody tells like, 'hey bro, let's fight, you not fight one year'. I'm waiting for when somebody calls me to fight. Yeah, nobody. I'm sad... Why nobody? Why 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, where are these guys? There's nobody asking me to fight. If nobody's calling me to fight, I want to call somebody. Ok, Beneil [Dariush] or this Mr. Tattoo [Dan Hooker], let's go."

Check out Rafael Fiziev's comments on his UFC return below:

Fiziev noted that he and Dariush have both been inactive for some time and need to prove they still deserve their place in the rankings. He added that he believes a clash with Hooker would be exciting.