EXCLUSIVE | Alan Jouban to the UFC: “Let me prove myself, give me Rafael dos Anjos!”

Surging UFC welterweight Alan Jouban (15-4 MMA) is coming off arguably the finest performance of his octagon career at last month’s UFC on FOX 22 event in Sacramento, where he handed Mike Perry (9-1 MMA) the first loss of his professional career via unanimous decision.

The victory marked Alan Jouban’s third win in a row and fifth in his past six octagon appearances.

With that said, “Brahma” is not interested in taking any time off to celebrate, in fact the streaking welterweight is looking to return to action early this March as he told host Chris Taylor on Sunday’s edition of Rapid Fire.

“I want to return in early March. There are two fight cards in Vegas, one on the third and one on the fourth (UFC 209). Those are the two cards I am looking at. They are like 2 months out and eight weeks training is perfect timing. The events are local, well they are close, Vegas is about a four hour drive for me.”

Jouban and his team were already eyeing some fighters ranked in the top fifteen of the division but when he learned that former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos was moving up to the 170-pound weight class his focus turned towards welcoming ‘RDA’ to welterweight.

“I was already eyeballing a fight in March against a top fifteen guy. Probably something like 13, 14 or 15. Like a Matt Brown, Jake Ellenberger or Tarec Saffiedine, you know one of these type of guys. Me and my team definitely want either a big name or a ranked fight. Because after the Mike Perry fight, although it was a good performance, it really did nothing for me. It moved me nowhere. You know what I mean? I beat Mike Perry and I think it ranked me at #29 and Mike Perry is ranked at #31. I mean I just beat the guy and he has just three fights in the UFC and he is right behind me? So that kind of pissed me off. I felt like I received no respect from that.”

He continued:

“So we (Me and my team) were already eyeballing a ranked fighter in the top 15, like putting it in the UFC’s head that we want a ranked fighter and that I belong in the rankings. So when this came about that Rafael dos Anjos said he was moving up it just kind of dawned on us that this is the fight man. So all day today I have been on the phone with my manager and it is something that we 100% want now. We have already let the UFC know that this is the fight that we 100% want. I want to be the guy to welcome ‘RDA’ to the division. We have even reached out to his (Rafael’s) management team and said ‘Hey let’s put this together.’ They don’t have an opponent yet so I’ll be their guy. So yea bro I am excited for it. This is the fight that I want one hundred percent! I want to fight on a big card against a big name. I want the UFC to let me prove myself, so give me Rafael dos Anjos!”

Would you like to see Alan Jouban welcome former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos the UFC’s welterweight division? Who do you think would prove victorious if they fought? Sound off PENN Nation!