Rafael dos Anjos News

Tom Taylor - December 3, 2020

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos claims that he briefly put Khabib Nurmagomedov to sleep in their 2014 fight. Nurmagomedov, the reigning UFC lightweight champion, retired after a submission defeat of Justin Gaethje in the UFC 254 main event last month. Despite that retirement announcement, UFC President Dana White is optimistic the champion will fight again.

Cole Shelton - November 16, 2020

In the main event of UFC Vegas 14, Rafael dos Anjos was making his return to the lightweight division to take on Paul Felder who took the fight on short notice. Entering the fight, both men were looking to get back into the win column and get a top-five opponent next time out. Yet, it was dos Anjos who used his grappling to dominate the fight and win a clear decision, although one judge somehow had it scored for Felder.

Adam Martin - November 15, 2020

UFC lightweight contender Rafael dos Anjos was rewarded with a cool USADA jacket after he recently completed 50 clean drug tests all-time. Dos Anjos returned to the UFC lightweight division on Saturday night with a split decision win over Paul Felder in a spectacular fight between two incredible athletes. RDA is now 36 years old but he looked to be in amazing shape moving down to 155lbs for the first time in four years. And he did so clean. 30 fights into his UFC career and RDA has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He is a former UFC champion and a great ambassador of this sport as one of the cleanest athletes in the game today.

Adam Martin - November 15, 2020

UFC lightweight Rafael dos Anjos released a statement following his “roller coaster” split decision win over Paul Felder at UFC Vegas 14. RDA was originally set to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 254 on Fight Island but he was forced off the card due to COVID-19. The UFC then re-booked the fight for two weeks later at UFC Vegas 14. Unfortunately, the fight fell apart when Makhachev pulled out due to an infection. Fortunately, the UFC called upon Paul Felder to save the day. The No. 7 ranked lightweight/UFC color commentator stepped up to the plate on just five days’ notice, stepping in there with dos Anjos after having had no real training camp for it.

Adam D Martin - November 15, 2020

When the judges scored Rafael dos Anjos vs. Paul Felder at UFC Vegas 14 as a split decision, it was a shocker for almost everyone watching. The main event of UFC Vegas 14 was a competitive, yet clear decision for dos Anjos. BJPenn.com scored the fight 49-46 in favor of dos Anjos, giving him the first three rounds and the fifth round and giving Felder the fourth round. Most of the media at MMADecisions.com scored the fighter either 50-45 or 49-46 for dos Anjos.

Adam D Martin - November 15, 2020

UFC lightweight Islam Makhachev reacted to Rafael dos Anjos’ win over Paul Felder, by saying “Let’s finish our business in nearest future.” Makhachev was set to take on dos Anjos at UFC 254 in October, but RDA was forced to withdraw from the bout due to testing positive for COVID-19. The UFC then booked Makhachev and RDA in their own headliner on the UFC Vegas 14 card two weeks later, but Makhachev was forced out of the fight due to health issues. In turn, Paul Felder stepped in on five days’ notice and saved the card. The rest, as they say, is history.

Christopher Taylor - November 14, 2020

Paul Felder stepped up on just five days notice to save tonight’s UFC Vegas 14 event by squaring off with former 155lbs champion Rafael dos Anjos. It was a big risk for ‘The Irish Dragon’, but one he knew would payoff with dividends if he could pull off the upset.

Chris Taylor - November 14, 2020

The Octagon remained in Nevada for tonight’s UFC Vegas 14 event, a 9-bout fight card headlined by Paul Felder vs Rafael dos Anjos. The former UFC lightweight champion, Dos Anjos, was initially slated to fight Islam Makhachev in tonight’s event headliner. However, the Russian standout tested positive for Covid-19 and was forced to withdraw from the contest.

Chris Taylor - November 14, 2020

Tonight’s UFC Vegas 14 event was headlined by a key lightweight contest featuring former title holder Rafael dos Anjos taking on Paul Felder. Felder, who took tonight’s fight on just 5 days notice, had entered UFC Vegas 14 looking to rebound, this after dropping a split-decision loss to Dan Hooker in his most recent effort. ‘The Irish Dragon’ had gone 3-2 over his past five fights overall, which included a TKO victory over Charles Oliveira.

Chris Taylor - November 14, 2020

Tonight’s UFC Vegas 14 event is headlined by a key lightweight contest featuring former title holder Rafael dos Anjos taking on Paul Felder. The UFC’s former lightweight champion, Dos Anjos, was initially slated to fight Islam Makhachev in tonight’s event headliner. However, the Russian standout tested positive for Covid-19 and was forced to withdraw from the contest.

Chris Taylor - November 14, 2020

The Octagon remains in Nevada for tonight’s UFC Vegas 14 event, a ten-bout fight card headlined by Paul Felder vs. Rafael dos Anjos. The former UFC lightweight champion, Dos Anjos, was initially slated to fight Islam Makhachev in tonight’s event headliner. However, the Russian standout tested positive for Covid-19 and was forced to withdraw from the contest.

Cole Shelton - November 13, 2020

Rafael dos Anjos has revealed this Saturday’s card was close to being canceled. On Sunday, it was revealed Islam Makhachev was out of the fight with RDA due to injury. Immediately, many fans wondered if the UFC would even hold the event if the promotion couldn’t find a replacement for the Russian. Yet, on Monday, it was revealed Paul Felder stepped up on five days’ notice to headline the card and ultimately save the show.

Cole Shelton - November 12, 2020

In the main event of UFC Vegas 14, Paul Felder is stepping up on five days’ notice to take on Rafael dos Anjos in RDA’s return to 155-pounds. Heading into the fight, Felder is a +155 underdog while the Brazilian is a -190 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of pros believe it will be dos Anjos getting his hand raised.

Cole Shelton - November 11, 2020

Rafael dos Anjos believes a fight with Conor McGregor makes a lot of sense if he beats Paul Felder on Saturday night. Dos Anjos and McGregor were supposed to fight at UFC 196 with the Irishman looking to become a champ-champ. However, RDA was forced out of the fight due to an injury and then lost his belt to Eddie Alvarez who went on to fight McGregor.

Adam Martin - November 11, 2020

The full betting odds have been released for the 12 fights scheduled to take place at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 41: Felder vs. dos Anjos event. The main event of the evening is an intriguing five-round lightweight bout between former champion Rafael dos Anjos and top contender Paul Felder. Dos Anjos was supposed to fight Islam Makhachev but he was forced to withdraw due to illness and was replaced on five days’ notice by Felder. Dos Anjos enters this content having lost four of his last five fights, albeit at welterweight, while Felder’s coming off of a razor-thin decision loss to Dan Hooker.

Adam Martin - November 10, 2020

UFC featherweight Jared Gordon explained why he won’t be in the corner of his good friend Paul Felder in his fight against Rafael dos Anjos. Gordon and Felder are teammates and training partners at Roufusport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, not to mention really good friends outside of the cage. Back on Fight Island in July, Felder famously got up from the commentary booth where he was announcing the card to corner Gordon to victory against Chris Fishgold. When Felder was announced to be fighting against dos Anjos at UFC Vegas 14 this Saturday on five days’ notice, most assumed Gordon would be in Felder’s corner. However, that won’t be the case.

Cole Shelton - November 9, 2020

Paul Felder is happy to be fighting Rafael dos Anjos on short notice. On Monday, it was announced Felder was stepping up on five days to face dos Anjos after Islam Makhachev was forced to withdraw. Immediately, many fans were ecstatic for the fight, and for Felder, he says he’s excited to share the Octagon with a legend in dos Anjos.

Adam Martin - November 9, 2020

Lightweight Rafael dos Anjos thanked Paul Felder for saving the UFC Vegas 14 card on short notice, noting “We need more fighters like you.” Dos Anjos was set to fight Islam Makhachev in a highly-intriguing five-round main event, but unfortunately, the Russian had to pull out of the fight due to health issues. The UFC has been scrambling all weekend to fight an opponent for Makhachev. Several fighters including Diego Ferreira offered their services, and the UFC finally found a willing opponent in the form of top-10 ranked Felder to step in and take the fight on super short notice.