Former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos wants to finish Kevin Lee at UFC Fight Night 152.
Three fights and almost two years since his last submission win, former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is starting to miss the feeling of tapping out an opponent.
Paired up against former lightweight contender Kevin Lee, who is moving up to the welterweight division for the first time, Dos Anjos shared with Combate his intention to finish the fight by way of submission, something he hasn’t done since tapping out Neil Magny with an arm-triangle choke, back in September 2017.
“(I predict) a win. Let’s say a submission one. I’m in need of a submission win. I haven’t submitted anyone in years, I think it would be beautiful to score a submission in the second or third round. A win is always good. It won’t move me up the ranks, I’m already in third place, but I’m trying to forget about that for a little bit. A win is always good to recover your motivation. My last win was in December 2017, so that’s almost a year and a half ago. I want to win, that’s the main reason why (I took the fight).”
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelt, Rafael dos Anjos believes his experience might favor him against the younger Lee, but wants to waste no time with the ‘Motown Phenom’ in the Octagon. In fact, the former champion claims he will look to finish the time as soon as possible, even though he is ready to go at it for five rounds.
“He’s a tough guy, good wrestling, good jiu-jitsu, he has decent striking, is strong and athletic. I know he’ll come out strong in the first rounds, but he better, because I’ll be ready. I’ll be pressuring him and ready to go five rounds. I think I’ll have the upper hand in a long distance fight, but that’s not my intention. I want no overtime in the Octagon, I want to get in there and do it as soon as possible, but I have a chance with my patience, tranquility and experience.”
Currently on a two-fight losing skid, with losses to Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, Dos Anjos (28-11) hasn’t won a fight since besting Robbie Lawler via unanimous decision back in December 2017. Now, the 34-year-old is expected to take on Lee at UFC Fight Night 152’s main event, in Rochester, New York, on May 18.