Photo by Michael Owens/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Rafael dos Anjos will make his return to lightweight tomorrow night (Sat., Nov. 14, 2020) at UFC Vegas 14 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, when the former UFC champion battles late-replacement Paul Felder in the main event.
For RDA, this is a massive opportunity to reinvent himself late into his career, start fresh entering the new year, and knock off one of the toughest humans in the division. It will be dos Anjos’ first appearance at 155 pounds since losing to Tony Ferguson via decision back in 2016. Dos Anjos has been competing at welterweight ever since but has produced mixed results with a 4-4 record.
In preparation for RDA’s return to the Octagon, UFC has released his welterweight clash with Kevin Lee from May of 2019. The two met in a main event at UFC on ESPN+ 10 in Rochester, New York. After three hard-fought rounds by both fighters it was RDA who was able to take control in the fourth and stop “Motown Phenom” via arm-triangle choke. It was the Brazilian’s fourth submission finish of his 11-year UFC career.
The complete RDA vs. Lee scrap can be seen above courtesy of UFC.
While Felder is filling in on short notice and isn’t necessarily considered a title contender at 155 pounds, it remains a massive fight for dos Anjos. Their matchup at UFC Vegas 14 is going to be an excellent measuring tool for both fighters, but specifically RDA as he returns to a weight class he once dominated.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 14 fight card, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, then the remaining main card balance on ESPN+ 7 p.m. ET.