Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight titleholder Rafael dos Anjos is set to make his 170-pound debut against ex-Strikeforce welterweight kingpin Tarec Saffiedine at the upcoming UFC Fight Night 111 mixed martial arts (MMA) event, set for June 17, 2017 inside Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.
His first step toward becoming UFC welterweight champion.
“I have been sparring with bigger guys, trained a few times with Michael Bisping and the guys Bisping takes to the gym,” dos Anjos told MMA Fighting. “No rush, but my goal is the welterweight belt. But I’ll do at welterweight what I did at lightweight, no rush. I’ll slowly get there. I have the qualities to get there. But a win over Tarec Saffiedine will definitely put me in this mix.”
It’s a long way to the top (if you want to rock and roll).
Dos Anjos (25-9) is abandoning his post at 155 pounds — a weight cut he was not in love with — after coming up short in back-to-back losses to Eddie Alvarez and Tony Ferguson, with the former costing the Brazilian his division crown.
Anyone think Dos Anjos can go all the way at 170 pounds?