UFC finalizing Fiziev-Gamrot for Sept. 23 main event

The UFC is booking a matchup between lightweight contenders Rafael Fiziev and Mateusz Gamrot to headline UFC Fight Night on Sept. 23, president Dana White told ESPN's Brett Okamoto on Thursday.

A featherweight bout between Bryce Mitchell and Dan Ige is also on the card, which is expected to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Fiziev is coming off a majority decision loss to former interim champ Justin Gaethje at UFC 286 in March. The 30-year-old had won six straight before that, including a knockout win over ex-titleholder Rafael dos Anjos in a UFC main event last summer.

Gamrot returned to the win column in his most recent Octagon appearance, edging Jalin Turner by split decision at UFC 285. The 32-year-old became a contender by upsetting Arman Tsarukyan in a June 2022 main event, but he fell short of joining the title conversation when he lost to Beneil Dariush last October.

Fiziev and Gamrot are ranked Nos. 6 and 7 in the division, respectively.

The winner of the Sept. 23 matchup could be in the title mix along with the winner of this weekend's UFC 291 main event between Dustin Poirier and Gaethje. Champion Islam Makhachev is scheduled to defend the belt in a rematch with ex-champ Charles Oliveira at UFC 294 on Oct. 21.