Rafael dos Anjos requests to be removed from UFC lightweight rankings, eyes welterweight return in July
Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos wants to ride out the rest of his career at welterweight.
Dos Anjos (32-16 MMA, 21-14 UFC) has bounced between 155 and 170 pounds in the past seven years. His most recent appearance came at UFC 299 in March when he lost a unanimous decision to Mateusz Gamrot.
But now dos Anjos, who’s ranked No. 14 in the UFC’s lightweight rankings, intends on moving back up to welterweight.
“Get me out of LW rankings. For you LW out there calling me out I don’t compete at LW now on. I have nothing to prove to nobody, I walk around 195 at 39 years old. There’s lots of fights that make sense to me at 170. I want to fight in July @ufc get me back in that octagon.”
Get me out of LW rankings. For you LW out there calling me out I don’t compete at LW now on. I have nothing to prove to nobody, I walk around 195 at 39 years old. There’s lots of fights that make sense to me at 170.
I want to fight in July @ufc get me back in that octagon.— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) May 15, 2024
Dos Anjos’ first run at welterweight included three straight wins over Tarec Saffiedine, Neil Magny, and Robbie Lawler, which resulted in an interim title fight vs. Colby Covington in June 2018. He lost a competitive unanimous decision and is 5-5 at 170 pounds. His most recent win came in a second-round submission of Bryan Barberena in December 2022.
MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) fights Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Rafael dos Anjos
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Bryan Barberena…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Bryan Barberena (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Bryan Barberena…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Bryan Barberena (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Bryan Barberena…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Bryan Barberena (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) and Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves)…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Bryan Barberena (red gloves) and Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) after their fight during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Bryan Barberena…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Bryan Barberena (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Bryan Barberena…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Bryan Barberena (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC Fight Night - Orlando - Barberena vs Dos Anjos
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Bryan Barberena…
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Bryan Barberena (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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Rafael dos Anjos (32-14 MMA, 21-12 UFC) def. Bryan Barberena (18-9 MMA, 9-7 UFC) via submission
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