Tag: Rafael Dos Anjos

Eddie Alvarez Calls Out Diaz vs. McGregor II Winner

Add another UFC champion to the growing list of fighters who want the biggest name ‘money’ fight they can get in the Octagon. Top lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov teased a big announcement last week, and many were quick to guess that could only mean a bout with newly crowned champion Eddie Alvarez, who won the

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Add another UFC champion to the growing list of fighters who want the biggest name ‘money’ fight they can get in the Octagon.

Top lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov teased a big announcement last week, and many were quick to guess that could only mean a bout with newly crowned champion Eddie Alvarez, who won the belt with a shocking first-round KO of Rafael dos Anjos at UFC Fight Night 90 in early July.

But ‘The Underground King’ isn’t singing the same tune. He has his focus on a whole different pair of opponents, and during a recent conversation with TMZ (via FOX Sports), Alvarez revealed he not surprisingly wants to face the winner of August 20’s pivotal welterweight bout between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor:

“I’ve got my eye on Nate Diaz-Conor. I would love to the fight the winner of that whole crew. I keep getting asked by all the media — you fight all the best guys in the world and at the end of the day the media asks ‘what about Conor McGregor?’ so I’m sick of being asked about his name. Him or Nate. I have some history with Nate, too. Either one of them.”

It’s a strong argument from Alvarez, as no matter which top-ranked lightweight he sent packing – and there are several – the media would continually ask about him fighting McGregor until he did. And it could also be argued that Nurmagomedov or Tony Ferguson would be far tougher challenges for a smaller payday compared to Irish featherweight champ McGregor.

Alvarez isn’t exactly a name draw himself, but like UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley, he knows where the biggest payday – and also perhaps the easiest title defense – lies. In his eyes, he brings the other key piece of the pie, and that’s the belt:

“I’m sure either one of them want the lightweight title,” Alvarez said. “They ain’t going to get it, but they can challenge for it.”

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Rafael Dos Anjos: I Would’ve Killed Conor McGregor If We Fought

It seems that almost every UFC fighter takes a shot at current UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor these days. Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is just another fighter to call out the young Irishmen. Dos Anjos and McGregor were supposed to fight back in March at UFC 196 in a lightweight bout but

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It seems that almost every UFC fighter takes a shot at current UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor these days. Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is just another fighter to call out the young Irishmen. Dos Anjos and McGregor were supposed to fight back in March at UFC 196 in a lightweight bout but “RDA” had to pull out of the fight with a foot injury on short notice, which led to Nate Diaz stepping up to the plate and fighting McGregor at the event on just eight days notice. McGregor would end up losing that fight when he was choked out.

Dos Anjos recently took to Twitter and blasted McGregor. Dos Anjos believes that McGregor wouldn’t be a two division champion if they fought and McGregor would be dead. Very bold claims by the former champion.

“@TheNotoriousMMA if You had fought me you wouldn’t be 2 division champ, you would be dead.Look what a out of shape Diaz did to U #I’llbeback.”

It’s possible that the two stars will fight down the road, but it won’t be anytime soon as McGregor fights Diaz at UFC 202 on August 20th in Las Vegas and Dos Anjos fights Tony Ferguson on November 5th in Mexico City at the TUF Latin America 3 Finale.

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The Rousey Curse: Ranking Title Upsets Since UFC 193

For the UFC’s champions, the last nine months have been like a game of Russian Roulette, but perhaps with more than one loaded chamber. Since Holly Holm brutally dethroned Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 on November 15, 2015, six other heavy underdogs have become UFC champions. Call it the Rousey Curse. Not every titleholder who went […]

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For the UFC’s champions, the last nine months have been like a game of Russian Roulette, but perhaps with more than one loaded chamber.

Since Holly Holm brutally dethroned Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 on November 15, 2015, six other heavy underdogs have become UFC champions. Call it the Rousey Curse. Not every titleholder who went down has disappeared as completely as the “Rowdy” one has since her loss, but many have been finished in just as grisly a fashion. The next champion who goes into his or her title defense as more than a slight favorite has to be sweating bullets.

Only two champions have defended their straps as more than 2-1 favorites since that November night in Australia. The first was Rafael dos Anjos. The Brazilian whipped a kick into Donald Cerrone’s liver, and followed up by pummeling “Cowboy’s” face until he could do nothing but cover up.

The second was Demetrious Johnson continuing his run at Anderson Silva’s consecutive title defenses record. “Mighty Mouse” styled on his latest challenger, Henry Cejudo, tenderizing his body with clinch knees until the former Olympian cried “Uncle”.

Other than those two instances, however, every other champion who was expected to walk through his or her challenger has been bounced from the mountaintop in shocking fashion. This piece ranks the championship upsets that have occurred since Rousey tumbled from her throne.

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UFC Makes Rafael Dos Anjos-Tony Ferguson For November

Tony Ferguson’s quest to win nine consecutive fights in the UFC will have to go through a former champion, as he is set to meet Rafael dos Anjos this November.

UFC officials confirmed the previously reported bout on Wednesday. It will serve as the f…

Rafael dos Anjos Tony Ferguson

Tony Ferguson’s quest to win nine consecutive fights in the UFC will have to go through a former champion, as he is set to meet Rafael dos Anjos this November.

UFC officials confirmed the previously reported bout on Wednesday. It will serve as the five-round main event for the November 5 card from the Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City. The card will air live on FOX Sports 1 and feature the finals of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 3.

Dos Anjos (25-8) had his five-fight win streak snapped by Eddie Alvarez last month, losing the UFC lightweight title via first round knockout. He had bested Donald Cerrone, Anthony Pettis, Nate Diaz, Benson Henderson and Jason High during his run.

Ferguson (21-3) picked up his eighth straight win when he submitted Lando Vannata in July with a second round D’arce choke. It marked the fifth submission win for the fighter during his current win streak, which includes wins over Edson Barboza, Josh Thomson and Abel Trujillo.

Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Tony Ferguson Announced: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

Rafael Dos Anjos will face Tony Ferguson in a five-round lightweight clash in the headline bout of the UFC’s event at Mexico City’s Arena Ciudad de Mexico on Saturday, November 5. 
UFC Europe relayed confirmation of the fight on Wednesda…

Rafael Dos Anjos will face Tony Ferguson in a five-round lightweight clash in the headline bout of the UFC’s event at Mexico City’s Arena Ciudad de Mexico on Saturday, November 5. 

UFC Europe relayed confirmation of the fight on Wednesday:

Brazilian Dos Anjos lost his UFC lightweight title to Eddie Alvarez back in July and will face an in-form Ferguson—the American has won eight fights on the bounce—as he looks to return to winning ways.

Dos Anjos, 31, claimed the belt with his victory over Anthony Pettis at UFC 185 last year and beat Donald Cerrone in brilliant fashion in his first defence before his first-round knockout loss to Alvarez.

He was scheduled to fight Conor McGregor back in March but pulled out 11 days before with a foot injury.

The 32-year-old Ferguson has put himself firmly in contention for a title shot with four submission victories in his last five fights, most recently beating Lando Vannata with a Brabo choke in July.

As the No. 3 contender in the UFC‘s lightweight division—Dos Anjos is No. 2—Ferguson was seen as one of the top candidates to fight Alvarez in his first title defence, per MMAJunkie.

The Californian, though, will now have to get through at least one more fight to finally be given a title shot.

His scheduled clash with Dos Anjos is surely as good as a title eliminator to fight for the lightweight belt, with undefeated No. 1 contender Khabib Nurmagomedov likely Alvarez’s next opponent.

The Russian recently called Alvarez out on Instagram after the American questioned his record:

The UFC’s lightweight division is currently packed with quality and Dos Anjos’ clash with Ferguson in Mexico is sure to be a fascinating occasion.

It will take a huge effort from the former champ to beat a rampant Ferguson—who has lost only once in his UFC career—and put himself back in the frame to compete for the title.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Report: Tony Ferguson-Rafael Dos Anjos In Works For November Card

An intriguing contest in the lightweight division is in the early stages of being completed, as Tony Ferguson and Rafael dos Anjos have verbally agreed to fight.

The bout would take place this November 5 from Mexico City during The Ultimate Fighter:…

rafael-dos-anjos-weigh-in

An intriguing contest in the lightweight division is in the early stages of being completed, as Tony Ferguson and Rafael dos Anjos have verbally agreed to fight.

The bout would take place this November 5 from Mexico City during The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 3 finale. The event is likely to be a “Fight Night” card.

Ferguson has scored eight consecutive victories, including a recent submission of Lando Vannata. Dos Anjos dropped the UFC title to Eddie Alvarez last month after successfully defending it vs. Donald Cerrone.

The bout was first reported by Champions.co.