As UFC 225 — which goes down this Saturday night (June 9, 2018) in Chicago, Illinois — quickly approaches, one of the stories that isn’t really being told is Rafael dos Anjos’ attempt to make Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history.
The former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight champion looks to become only the fifth fighter ever to win two separate division titles, joining Randy Couture, B.J. Penn, Georges St-Pierre, and Conor McGegor as the only fighters to ever accomplish that feat.
It’s easy to overlook that detail given the fact that UFC 225 is stacked and his co-main event fight against Colby Covington is for the interim Welterweight strap. Plus, “RDA” is a silent star, preferring to let his fists and feet do the talking. And they communicate well, getting straight to the point and delivering the message time and time again.
Riding a three-fight win streak over the likes of Robbie Lawler, Neil Magny and Tarec Saffiedine, dos Anjos once had an even more impressive streak that saw him take out Ben Henderson, Nate Diaz, Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone, winning the 155-pound strap along the way.
And let’s not forget he took Khabib Nurmagomedov the distance, too. In short, he’s fought the best of the best.
But, through it all, dos Anjos never lost himself and never turned to that trash-talking game like many fighters before and after him have done. Perhaps that’s why his attempt to join elite company by etching his name in the history books has gone by the wayside.
Heck, it seems Covington’s love for porn stars has gotten more attention.
With a win, Rafael will get the opportunity to unify the straps against division king Tyron Woodley later this year. Of course, he has to take care of “Chaos” in the “Windy City” and avoid coming up short in his history-seeking goal like Holly Holm and Anthony Pettis did before him, first.
But if he proves victorious this Saturday, he will likely secure himself a future slot in UFC’s Hall of Fame, much like the other four men before him have done … or will do.
Right?
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