Khabib Nurmagomedov Finally Has a Fight; Rafael dos Anjos Agrees After UFC 170 Cancellation
Almost as quickly as his UFC 170 fight with Rustam Khabilov was cancelled, Rafael dos Anjos landed a new gig and a new Russian to fight.
UFC officials, just minutes after revealing the cancellation, announced that dos Anjos had verbally agreed to face the man that almost no one wants to fight, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The two will face each other in the Octagon at UFC on Fox 11 on April 19 in Orlando, Fla.
Dos Anjos (20-6) has won his five most recent bouts. In his most recent outing, dos Anjos took out top lightweight Donald Cerrone with a unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 27.
Nurmagomedov, however, might be the only fighter in the lightweight division on a hotter streak than dos Anjos… and he’s been on the streak since 2008.
The Russian has never lost a professional fight, winning all 21 of the bouts he has contested. Because of that, it’s been difficult for the UFC to nail down an opponent for him.
Fighters from Gilbert Melendez to Nate Diaz had been in the works for Nurmagomedov, but for one reason or another, they couldn’t get the deal done. Having just had his fight with Khabilov nixed, dos Anjos was ready to jump when offered Nurmagomedov.
UFC officials have yet to announce where the bout will fall on the UFC on Fox 11 fight card, but it has to be a solid contender for the four-fight main card on Fox, which is headline by Fabricio Werdum vs. Travis Browne.
