Rafael dos Anjos Wants Tyron Woodley Not Kamaru Usman

Rafael dos Anjos’ run in the welterweight division much like his former opponent “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone. He’s taken out Tarec Saffiedine and Neil Magny, and he’s not even close to slowing down. Kamaru Usman was campaigning for a fight with dos Anjos after destroying Sergio Moraes at UFC Fight Night 116. However, dos Anjos is looking to take advantage of his name and quick rise in his new division for a shot at Tyron Woodley.

“I just beat the No. 6 in the division and I’m currently at No. 5, it doesn’t make any sense to fight the No. 10 [Kamaru Usman]. I understand that everyone is trying to promote themselves to get interesting fights, but I’m worried about fighters who are ahead of me. Even [Tyron Woodley]’s manager said I deserve to fight for the title. So, I don’t know why he’s worried about me.”

Let's be honest @TWooodley vs @RdosAnjosMMA is the money (and deserving) fight. It will be dynamite, @danawhite pls make it happen. #ufc pic.twitter.com/UYlkMuNjJ5

— Mike Rilke (@MichaelBoffie) September 29, 2017

“I’m a former champion, I’m in the UFC for almost 10 years, and this kid just got here the other day. Relax, man, mind your own business and don’t cut the line. He was only worried about the striking against ‘Wonderboy’ [Stephen Thompson] and only worried about not going to the ground with Demian [Maia], but he will be confused with me. I’ll take him out of his comfort zone, and he will have to work twice as hard.” — Rafael dos Anjos speaking to MMA Fighting in a recent interview.

This is a great idea here by Rafael dos Anjos. Tyron Woodley has complained of a lack of contenders after taking out everyone who has been at the top of the welterweight division. A former lightweight champ like dos Anjos challenging for the title could be a fight the UFC is needs for Woodley, or else he”ll be searching for superfights.

He’s said he’d move up to middleweight to challenge the winner at UFC 217. As we all know, anything and everything can happen in the UFC, so either one of these fights could be a possibility. Kamaru Usman himself has moved on, issuing a challenge to Neil Magny who verbally agreed to the match-up.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 10/3/2017.