Two hard-hitting lightweights are outside the top five in the division rankings, waiting to get let in, Rafael Fiziev and Mateusz Gamrot face off in a bout that could bring them closer to a title fight.
The fighters face off inside the UFC’s APEX Center in Las Vegas on September 23. UFC Vegas 79 airs on ESPN+ in the U.S.
A former Muay Thai Toyota Marathon Tournament competitor with over 39 wins, Fiziev joined MMA in 2015. Signing with the UFC in 2019, Fiziev lost his first bout in the octagon against Magomed Mustafaev.
He went on a six-fight win streak after, winning five consecutive fight night bonuses. The Azerbaijani won his sixth in his last bout, his first loss in the octagon in a violent March fight against Justin Gaethje.
WATCH: UFC Vegas 79: Rafael Fiziev vs. Mateusz Gamrot on ESPN+
Fiziev, currently sixth in the rankings, faces the Polish bruiser in Gamrot, ranked seventh. A gold medalist at the European Amateur MMA Championships, Gamrot turned pro in 2012. A former KSW lightweight and featherweight champion, Gamrot joined the UFC in 2020.
Also losing his first bout in the octagon, "Gamer" won four in a row before losing against Beneil Dariush in October 2022. He rebounded in March, beating Jalin Turner via split decision.
When is UFC Vegas 79: Rafael Fiziev vs. Mateusz Gamrot?
UFC Vegas 79 begins at 4 p.m. ET on September 23. Here's how that translates to different timezones globally:
| Region | Date | Prelims Start Time | Main Card Start Time | Main Event Start Time (approx.) |
| USA and Canada (ET) | Saturday, September 23 | 4 p.m. ET | 7 p.m ET | 10 p.m. ET |
| USA and Canada (PT) | Saturday, September 23 | 1 p.m. PT | 4 p.m. PT | 7 p.m. PT |
| UK and Ireland | Saturday, September 23 | 9 p.m. BST | 12 a.m. BST | 3 a.m. BST |
| Australia | Sunday, September 24 | 6 a.m. AEST | 9 a.m. AEST | 12 p.m. AEST |
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How to watch UFC Vegas 79: Rafael Fiziev vs. Mateusz Gamrot
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Saturday, September 23 | ESPN+, ESPN |
| Canada | Saturday, September 23 | BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink |
| United Kingdom | Saturday, September 23 | TNT Sports |
| Australia | Sunday, September 24 | Main Event on Kayo |
The prelims and main card for UFC Vegas 79 will be available on ESPN and the ESPN+ streaming service.
Rafael Fiziev vs. Mateusz Gamrot price: How much does UFC Vegas 79 cost?
You can pay $9.99 for a monthly subscription to ESPN+ or buy an annual subscription for $99.99.
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $9.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $99.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $12.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform.
Where is UFC Vegas 79?
UFC Vegas 79 is in the UFC's APEX Center in Las Vegas.
Rafael Fiziev vs. Mateusz Gamrot betting odds for UFC Vegas 79
Per Sports Interaction, Rafael Fiziev is the -140 favorite, while Mateusz Gamrot is the +110 underdog.
Rafael Fiziev record, bio
- Nationality: Kyrgyzstani
- Born: March 5, 1993
- Height: 5-8
- Reach: 71 inches
- Total fights: 14
- Record: 12-2 with eight wins via knockout
Mateusz Gamrot record, bio
- Nationality: Polish
- Born: December 11, 1990
- Height: 5-10
- Reach: 71 inches
- Total fights: 25
- Record: 22–2 (1 NC) with seven wins via knockout
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UFC Vegas 79 fight card
Main card
- Rafael Fiziev vs. Mateusz Gamrot; Lightweights
- Bryce Mitchell vs. Dan Ige; Featherweights
- Marina Rodriguez vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez; Strawweights
- Bryan Battle vs. AJ Fletcher; Welterweights
- Ricardo Ramos vs. Charles Jourdain; Featherweights
Prelims
- Miles Johns vs. Dan Argueta; Bantamweights
- Tim Means vs. Andre Fialho; Welterweights
- Jacob Malkoun vs. Cody Brundage; Middleweights
- Mohammed Usman vs. Jake Collier; Heavyweights Mizuki Inoue vs. Hannah Goldy; Strawweights
- Montserrat Rendon vs. Tamires Vidal; Bantamweights
