Rafael Fiziev’s coach Frank Hickman says Fiziev is more than capable of handling Justin Gaethje’s wrestling at UFC 286 taking place at the O2 Arena in London, United Kingdom.
Both men left the door open for a possible wrestling match, and according to Hickman, Fiziev will be prepared to wrestle Gaethje to the ground.
“As a wrestling coach, you always prepare for everything,” Hickman said in a recent interview. “Wrestler or non-wrestler, you want to prepare for the worst. If Justin wants to wrestle, Rafael is more than capable of handling that situation – defensively and offensively. Rafael is a complete MMA fighter.
“He’s not just good at the striking, he’s good at that because that’s what you’ve seen, but I’ve also seen him stop a lot of takedowns and get takedowns of his own. So with that, there is always a threat of it. But an MMA fight, you have to be ready for all angles.”
Rafael Fiziev will dictate the pace of the fight
Two of the more intriguing strikers in the lightweight class are Fiziev and Gaethje. Hickman, though, believes that Fiziev’s intelligence will set him apart and give him the upper hand.
“I think Rafael can dictate where this fight goes,” Hickman said. “Obviously on his feet is where he’s most comfortable. So, Rafael just needs to go in there, get his distance, and get comfortable right away. Then once that happens and his IQ takes over, it could be a long night for Justin.”
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