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Now down to the last fight of his UFC contract, Rafael dos Anjos drops three names he’d want to face.
Rafael dos Anjos is down to the last fight of his UFC contract. Rightly so, the former lightweight champion is looking at the best possible opponent for himself.
The 35-year-old Brazilian fighter says he is looking to re-sign with the company he’s fought for since 2008, but is open to whatever the UFC decides to do. As far as his immediate plans go, dos Anjos wants to spring up back into action within the next couple of months.
“I want to fight. I fought in January, so June or July would be good dates,” he told MMA Fighting. “I’m going for the last fight in my contract with the UFC, so we have to see if the UFC wants to re-sign me. It’s a bunch of things.”
With a date in mind, “RDA” also named three possible opponents, including a rematch with a fellow former champion.
“I thought about Pettis because he once said, after a victory, that he was interested in fighting me at 170,” he s said. “Since he fought (Donald) Cerrone at welterweight, I think this could be the fight.”
“Man, Ponzinibbio is crazy. (The UFC) hasn’t said anything. This guy hasn’t fought in a year and a half. F—k, I fought (four) times since his last fight. I have no problem fighting him, but, brother, no one told me anything. He throws some crazy stuff online, it’s hard to understand. But I have no problem fighting Ponzinibbio.
“I’m in a situation that I can’t call anyone out,” he continued. “I’m coming off a loss and I know that’s in the past and I will bounce back, but what the UFC offers me, something that makes sense…
“I think Pettis would make sense for the history. The market is starting to move now. Stephen Thompson and I, there was some talk in the past, so I think that could be the fight. The division is very jammed, let’s see how it plays out.”
Dos Anjos is currently on a two-fight losing streak, both via decision. His most recent defeat came at the hands of Michael Chiesa in January.