Report: UFC lightweight contender Rafael Fiziev to undergo nose surgery

Rising lightweight star Rafael Fiziev improved to 12-1 with a sixth straight win Saturday, knocking out Rafael Dos Anjos in the fifth round. However, the victory came with a nose injury that will require surgery, according to reporter Ariel Helwani.

The injury is expected to keep Fiziev, who climbed to seventh in the UFC lightweight rankings this week, out of action until at least November.

Fiziev, 29, was a highly touted prospect upon his arrival to the UFC in 2019 but lost his first fight with the organization when he was hit with a spinning back kick by Magomed Mustafaev. Since then, Fiziev is on a spectacular run with three "Performance of the Night" bonuses and two "Fight of the Night" bonuses during his six-win streak.

After his most recent victory over Dos Anjos, Fiziev jokingly called out tennis star Rafael Nadal before telling reporters in a press conference that he hopes for a bout against former lightweight interim champion Justin Gaethje.

Gaethje, ranked third at lightweight, most recently fought in May when he lost to Charles Oliveira in a title fight. Before that he beat Michael Chandler in 2021 and lost in a title fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020.