Rafael dos Anjos News

Cole Shelton - October 8, 2020

Rafael dos Anjos will not be returning to lightweight to take on Islam Makhachev after all. Dos Anjos has been competing at welterweight for the last couple of years but at UFC 254 he was expected to return to 155lbs. Yet, the former champion took to social media to announce he is out of the fight due to him testing positive for COVID-19.

Harry Kettle - September 23, 2020

UFC veteran Rafael dos Anjos is reinventing himself ahead of another push to try and claim a UFC championship. Dos Anjos is a popular figure within the mixed martial arts community and is known as a true legend of the game. However, with his 36th birthday coming up next month, some believe that his time as an elite fighter is coming to an end.

Tom Taylor - August 21, 2020

Rafael dos Anjos will be training with a fellow MMA legend in Jose Aldo as he prepares to return to the lightweight division, where he was once the champion. Dos Anjos has spent the last few years of his career competing in the welterweight division, picking up big wins over Tarec Saffiedine, Neil Magny, Robbie Lawler and Kevin Lee, but coming up short against top-flight foes in Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards and Michael Chiesa.

Adam Martin - August 20, 2020

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos appears to be in tremendous shape ahead of a return to 155lbs against Islam Makhachev. As first reported by BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor, RDA will move back down to lightweight and he will meet a rising top-15 contender in the form of Makhachev. The two will battle it out on the undercard of UFC 254: Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje, which is set to take place on October 24. The event will likely take place on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.

Harry Kettle - July 29, 2020

UFC veteran Rafael dos Anjos has let the promotion know that he is ready to take a fight on short notice at either welterweight or lightweight. There are many fighters in the world of mixed martial arts that would be willing to take a fight on short notice in the UFC, especially under the current set of circumstances. RDA has been part of the UFC family for well over a decade now, and yet even after everything he’s been through, he’s still as determined as ever to climb up through the ranks.

Tom Taylor - June 18, 2020

Long-time UFC welterweight contender Rafael dos Anjos has made his prediction for the upcoming welterweight title fight between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns. Usman, the UFC welterweight champion, holds a decision win over dos Anjos. He’s scheduled to defend his title against dos Anjos’ friend and countryman, Burns, in the main event of UFC 251 on July 11.

Tom Taylor - June 17, 2020

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos believes the timing is perfect for a showdown with Conor McGregor. Dos Anjos was scheduled to defend the lightweight title against McGregor in 2016, but ultimately had to pull out of the contest with a foot injury. He was then replaced by Nate Diaz, and never had the opportunity for a rescheduled fight with the Irishman.

Adam Martin - June 14, 2020

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos once again called out his long-time rival Conor McGregor, who he jokingly referred to as “El Chapo.” Dos Anjos was set to fight McGregor back at UFC 196 in March 2016, but he pulled out of the fight on short notice, leading to McGregor fighting Nate Diaz. In one of the biggest upsets of that year, Diaz tapped McGregor out with a rear-naked choke. Dos Anjos went on to fight Eddie Alvarez at UFC Fight Night 90 and lost his belt via first-round TKO. McGregor went on to fight Alvarez at UFC 205 and knocked him out to claim the lightweight belt.

Chris Taylor - June 12, 2020

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos has issued a challenge to recently retired former two-division champion Conor McGregor. The Irish superstar announced his retirement from the sport shortly after the conclusion of last weekend’s UFC 250 broadcast.

Harry Kettle - June 10, 2020

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos issued a stern response after Nate Diaz took a shot at the Kamaru Usman vs Gilbert Burns title fight. It was announced yesterday that at UFC 251, Usman will be defending his UFC Welterweight Championship against Burns in the inaugural pay-per-view event on the highly anticipated Fight Island.

Natasha Hooper - June 5, 2020

MMA fighter turned analyst Chael Sonnen is convinced that Rafael Dos Anjos has “lost his mind”. During a recent interview, the Brazilian star revealed that he is currently on the last fight of his UFC contract and is waiting to see if the UFC will resign him.

Tom Taylor - June 3, 2020

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is on the final fight of his current UFC deal, and is uncertain what the future holds beyond that. He’s hoping to fight again in the coming months, and with a little luck, re-sign with the UFC, where he’s spent the vast majority of his MMA career thus far.

Natasha Hooper - April 6, 2020

Rafael dos Anjos has revealed how an infrared sauna caused his whole body to overheat during weight cutting for his last fight against Michael Chiesa. Many MMA fighters have experienced weight cutting related mishaps. That includes the former lightweight champion and UFC veteran “RDA”. The Brazilian explained how cutting weight hampered his UFC Raleigh performance in a recent interview with MMA Junkie.

Harry Kettle - March 3, 2020

Rafael dos Anjos has confirmed that he is interested in a potential rematch with Anthony Pettis following their fight back at UFC 185. Dos Anjos is coming off the back of consecutive losses at the hands of Leon Edwards and Michael Chiesa, with his last win being a submission triumph over Kevin Lee back at UFC Rochester in May 2019. Pettis, on the other hand, has also lost two in a row against Nate Diaz and Carlos Diego Ferreira.

Chris Taylor - January 25, 2020

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos squared off with Michael Chiesa in a welterweight bout at tonight’s UFC Raleigh event. Dos Anjos (29-12 MMA) was coming off a unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards in his most recent Octagon appearance. Prior to that setback, ‘RDA’ had scored a submission victory Kevin Lee.

Chris Taylor - January 25, 2020

In tonight’s UFC Raleigh co-headliner, former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos will square off with Michael Chiesa in a welterweight bout. Dos Anjos (29-12 MMA) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards in his most recent Octagon appearance. Prior to the setback, ‘RDA’ had scored a submission victory Kevin Lee.

Cole Shelton - December 20, 2019

Rafael dos Anjos hopes he and Colby Covington can run things back soon. At UFC 225 the two were the co-main event and were fighting for the interim welterweight title. It was a back-and-forth fight but Covington ultimately edged out a decision.

Harry Kettle - November 22, 2019

UFC welterweight contenders Rafael dos Anjos and Michael Chiesa have exchanged pleasantries ahead of their clash at UFC Raleigh next year. The UFC has confirmed that the two will square off at the show on January 25, which is already looking like one of the most stacked Fight Night cards in quite some time. Curtis Blaydes vs Junior dos Santos is set to main event the card in North Carolina with Cory Sandhagen vs Frankie Edgar having also been confirmed.