Rafael dos Anjos News

Tom Taylor - July 23, 2018

On Sunday evening, in the headlining bout of UFC Hamburg, former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua returned to the cage opposite Anthony Smith, a fresh new light heavyweight contender who stepped in to replace Volkan Oezdemir on short notice. Unfortunately, this fight did not go as planned for the MMA legend Shogun, as he was promptly knocked unconscious by a vicious volley of strikes from his opponent. In the wake of this knockout loss, Shogun has implied that he’s not done fighting yet — that “life continues,” even after setbacks of this kind. 

Chris Taylor - June 23, 2018

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos will likely be the next man to square off with surging welterweight contender Kamaru Usman. BJPENN.com’s Chris Taylor reported that news earlier today.

Drake Riggs - June 11, 2018

The original plan for UFC 225 was to have two title fights atop the stacked night of fights. Unfortunately, one ended up not being over a championship but the other went along as planned. In UFC 225’s co-main event this past Saturday, former UFC lightweight champion, Rafael Dos Anjos took on Colby Covington in search of his fourth straight win at 170 pounds and an interim title to boot.

Drake Riggs - June 10, 2018

Last night a new champion was crowned. That champion was none other than the outspoken American Top Team product, Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington.

Tom Taylor - June 3, 2018

Last weekend, in the main event of UFC Liverpool, Darren Till picked up the biggest win of his career thus far, scoring a close decision victory over two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. Regrettably, Till’s win was shadowed in controversy, as he missed weight for the bout, tipping the scales three and a half pounds over the 171-pound limit for non-title welterweight fights. In the opinion of Rafael dos Anjos, who will battle Colby Covington for the UFC interim welterweight title in the co-main event of UFC 225, Till’s struggles with the scale will probably eventually force him up to the 185-pound welterweight division. The recent  behind-the-scenes footage of Till’s weight-cut was all the proof dos Anjos needed to this end.

Tom Taylor - June 1, 2018

Colby Covington, who battles Rafael dos Anjos for the interim welterweight title at UFC 225 this June 9, is perhaps the most polarizing fighter in mixed martial arts today. The American welterweight has unleashed a stream of incendiary trash talk over the last few months, but apparently, it’s not bothering his opponent dos Anjos. “I grew up in Brazil in the favelas, man. Bullies, trash talking, doesn’t work with me,” dos Anjos said during the UFC 225 media conference call on Thursday (transcribed by MMA Fighting). “But I think Colby, he’s just trying [to be Conor McGregor]. Conor does it well. Conor, he’s a rich man, he makes a lot of money.”

Chris Taylor - May 5, 2018

Rafael dos Anjos and Michael Bisping take aim at Bellator’s Dillon Danis Former UFC champions Rafael dos Anjos (lightweight) and Michael Bisping (middleweight) took aim at Bellator MMA’s Dillon Danis on social media this weekend.

Tom Taylor - April 4, 2018

Weeks after our initial report that Colby Covington and Rafael dos Anjos will battle for interim welterweight gold at UFC 224, the bout is now official. One of the most interesting details of this contest is that it will occur in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Covington, of course, is public enemy number-one in the country, having referred to it as “a dump” and its people as “filthy animals” after his autumn defeat of Demian Maia.

Tom Taylor - March 30, 2018

Though the UFC hasn’t made it official just yet, former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is expected to battle Colby Covington for interim welterweight gold at UFC 224 this May 12. Speaking during a recent Instagram live video session, the division’s undisputed champ Tyron Woodley questioned dos Anjos’ choice to accept this fight. In his eyes, dos Anjos would have been wiser to hold out for a shot at the true welterweight title.

Tom Taylor - March 22, 2018

UFC 224, which goes down on May 12 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has looked like it could be a very big card from the moment it was announced. According to BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor, who has spoken with multiple sources close to the situation, the card is about to get a whole lot bigger, as the UFC is working on a UFC 224 interim welterweight title fight between top contenders Rafael dos Anjos and Colby Covington.

Justin Golightly - March 7, 2018

We haven’t seen Darren Till since his incredible and lightning fast finish of Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone at UFC Gdansk in October of last year, but you can’t hold that against the Scouser. He’s had a long list of potential opponents that’s getting longer including Gunnar Nelson, Stephen Thompson, Santiago Ponzinibbio, and Kamaru Usman. Now you can add former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos to the list. “[I want to fight Rafael dos Anjos] just because of his fan base there and I’ve obviously lived there. I’ve got a lot of fans there, and I can speak the language. It would be a good sell in Brazil, if he’s willing to do it. I know he’s waiting for [Tyron] Woodley but Woodley doesn’t seem to want to come back. The Americans need to see the new breed. I think ‘Wonderboy’ is still gonna avoid me. Apart from Conor [McGregor], everyone is anticipating my comeback more thank anyone else. It will be big.” — Darren Till speaking to MMA Fighting.

Justin Golightly - February 9, 2018

Rafael dos Anjos and Tyron Woodley have gone back and forth since Nate Diaz strutted back into fight talks with his signature scowling face. It’s easy to see why, of course. Dos Anjos wants the title shot promised to him, while Tyron Woodley ‘just wants to make money’ according to the former UFC lightweight champion. …But isn’t that what prize fighting is about? Not to dos Anjos it is not. To be fair, Tyron Woodley was willing to fight Diaz at a catchweight with no title on the line, but dos Anjos thinks either that that this match-up is against all logic. “Tyron Woodley is only thinking about money. Of course that everybody wants to make money and needs money, but he’s running away from logic. He’s trying to force his hand and making a fight that makes no sense. [Nate Diaz] can’t fight in this weight class and Woodley is trying to force this fight. He was willing to fight Nate Diaz while injured, needing to undergo surgery, because he knows it’s an easy fight and he can win without one arm. I think it’s wrong to hold the entire division like this. He’s trying to get an easy fight and stay on his TV and radio shows as a champion, he wants this status.”

Tom Taylor - February 7, 2018

Yesterday afternoon, UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley once again expressed interest in a showdown with long-time lightweight contender Nate Diaz. “I think that fight will happen,” Woodley told ESPN. “I think it will happen this year. I think it’s way more likely than people realize. There are conversations about Nate and I fighting in July. The UFC has offered Nate that fight. They just have to make it worth his while.

Tom Taylor - January 14, 2018

When he defeated Robbie Lawler by unanimous decision back in December, Rafael dos Anjos established himself as one of the top contenders in the stacked UFC welterweight division – perhaps the top contender outright. Since then, the Brazilian star has been angling for a title shot opposite reigning welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. Woodley, meanwhile, has expressed interest in a number of other high-profile fighters, such as Georges St-Pierre and Conor McGregor, and simultaneously dismissed dos Anjos. Yet this doesn’t seem to have discouraged dos Anjos.

Justin Golightly - January 4, 2018

How we were able to get Robbie Lawler fighting both Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone and former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in the same year is beyond our comprehension. Those are two fights anyone looked and and decided they were buying whatever card they were on immediately. Lawler and dos Anjos did not disappoint at UFC Winnipeg. It was a wild and brutal brawl that ended up with dos Anjos coming out on top with an unanimous decision. Unfortunately in the process, it looks like he injured Robbie Lawler’s knee. “The guy’s leg was destroyed. [Robbie Lawler] blew his ACL and meniscus and every other thing that’s in your knee out in like the third round. Wobbled over to the fence, laid against it, and asked [Rafael] dos Anjos to come in so they could just bang it out. Robbie Lawler went to the fifth round.” — Dana White speaking to YAHOO! Sport’s Kevin Iole.

Justin Golightly - January 3, 2018

Tyron Woodley is out recovering for his shoulder surgery, meanwhile the welterweights are all pacing back and forth to see who gets the next shot. Dana White went on record saying that the winner of Rafael dos Anjos and Robbie Lawler’s fight would get to fight Woodley for a title, after dos Anjos dominated the fight, it seemed like the next logical option. He still is campaigning for the shot while Tyron Woodley has other plans than the former lightweight champ and his boss: Georges St-Pierre, then dos Anjos. “I don’t see nobody ahead of me that deserve a next title shot, I’m former lightweight champion and I’ve been on the UFC for almost 10 years. 2017 was a great year and I’m looking forward for 2018.” — Rafael dos Anjos on Instagram.

Justin Golightly - December 19, 2017

Santiago Ponzinibbio stared down the Mike Perry storm and came out on top on Saturday. While Perry was unranked, it was a win over an opponent that was getting a big push from the UFC’s promotional machine. After taking out the prospect, Ponzinibbio is trying to catapult himself into huge fights. Knowing a title shot may not be possible yet, he wants the next best thing: A number one contender scrap with Rafael dos Anjos to see who gets to fight the champ when he comes back from shoulder surgery. “I know the UFC might not give me [a title shot] now because Tyron Woodley has an injured shoulder, so I think they should give me Rafael dos Anjos. Rafael dos Anjos and I should fight and the winner should fight for the title. I think this is a good match. I thought it was a good fight and good performance by Rafael dos Anjos. I like the winner of this fight, it’s nothing personal with Rafael dos Anjos. I like him, he won, but he only has three fights in this division you know. He won against Tarec Saffiedine, he is an old guy. Neil Magny is tough, but Lawler is old too and not having the best moment in his career.”

Tom Taylor - December 18, 2017

On Saturday night, in the main event of the stacked UFC on Fox 26, former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos established himself as one of the welterweight division’s top contenders by dominating Robbie Lawler to a unanimous decision win. In fact, dos Anjos could easily be the next man in line for UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley. He certainly believes he’s earned the chance. “I’m able to wait for him,” Rafael dos Anjos told the media at the UFC on Fox 26 post-fight press conference, assuring he’s willing to wait for a crack at the champ (h/t MMAFighting). “I think I did enough in the division to deserve the title shot. And I’m not a guy that talks so much, try to get that title shot because I’m talking bad about people, cursing people. I just go there and do a great performance like I did tonight. I hope so. Dana White said that. That’s what I hope.”