Despite the ground skills of Rafael Dos Anjos and Kamal Shalorus, most fans envisioned this fight staying on the feet due to both fighters’ love of striking.
It wasn’t long before Dos Anjos showed that his striking technique has improved dramatically over the course of his UF career, and he quickly landed a hard high kick that dropped his opponent.
Once the fight hit the mat, it was all but over as Dos Anjos took Shalorus’ back and locked in a fight-ending rear naked choke just minutes into the first round.
What we’ll remember about this fight
Obviously the most memorable moment of this fight was the head kick landed by Dos Anjos.
The strike was set up perfectly by the Brazilian native, and his ability to finish the fight was equally impressive.
The win is a huge one for Dos Anjos, but the loss may hurt Shalorus far more, as his UFC career will likely come to an end after his third straight loss.
What we learned about Rafael Dos Anjos
Dos Anjos has seriously been working on his striking game.
We first saw a glimpse of how hard Dos Anjos can hit after seeing him flatten George Sotiropoulos at UFC 132, but this finish over Shalorus may have been even more impressive.
What we learned about Kamal Shalorus
Shalorus seems to care more about fighting on his terms than earning the victory.
This fight ended pretty quickly, but Shalorus once again decided to neglect his wrestling base and strike with a much better opponent, and it cost him a shot at saving his job.
What’s next for Dos Anjos
Dos Anjos looked very good in this fight, and he should get a decent opponent in his next bout to see if he can hang with one of the better midcard lightweights in the UFC.
A battle against Mark Bocek could be a fun one, as Bocek’s ground skills would be put to the test against a very game Dos Anjos.
What’s next for Shalorus
Unfortunately for the former WEC veteran, his time inside the Octagon has probably come to an end.
Three straight stoppage losses is tough for any fighter to overcome, but Shalorus wasn’t all that competitive in any of his UFC bouts, and that means he’ll be looking for a job prior to his next fight.
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