Skip to main content

Rafael dos Anjos probably done with lightweight, won't be sad if Islam Makhachev fight never happens

Rafael dos Anjos has made it clear at this point in his career he’s not really concerned by title gold aspirations.

Former lightweight champion dos Anjos (31-14 MMA, 20-12 UFC) faces Bryan Barberena (18-8 MMA, 9-6 UFC) in a welterweight bout Saturday at UFC on ESPN 42 in Orlando, Fla. According to dos Anjos, fans shouldn’t hold their breath for a return to lightweight, though it’s not completely out of the picture.

“Just for some specific fights I have in mind, I’d (drop to lightweight) again,” dos Anjos told reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday (h/t Bro Bible). “I don’t have plans to win the title in that division anymore, I’ll be honest with you. A couple guys that if it’s in good momentum for me and my personal life as well, I’ll take the fight. As of now, I have Bryan Barberena this Saturday and I’m staying at welterweight.”

With his focus on welterweight, a stamp is likely put on the notion dos Anjos won’t fight UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. The two fighters have history but have not competed against one another. Matched on multiple occasions, the bout was cursed. Even though multiple cancellations prevented it from happening, dos Anjos is at peace with it never happening.

“We were scheduled to fight a couple times, but I got injured (and) he pulled out on fight week, as well,” dos Anjos said. “We had a chance to fight at welterweight. He threw his name out there. I accepted the fight. He didn’t take it and (Renato) Moicano took it. I wouldn’t be sad (if we don’t fight).”

As for the task at hand Saturday, dos Anjos likes the matchup for multiple reasons. It’s not just a stylistically favorable matchup, said dos Anjos. The preparation for a three-round bout is less strenuous on his body, which could play into his hand.

“I’m happy with that matchup,” dos Anjos said. “He’s coming in on a (three-fight) winning streak. He’s a guy that fights forward. He’s the type of fight that I like. Being three rounds, I think of my last eight fights, seven of them were five rounds, if I’m not wrong. It was good, a little break, too, fighting three rounds. Preparation is a little easier, too. I’m happy with that matchup.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 42.

Barberena vs. Dos Anjos: How many rounds? - Powered By PickUp


from MMA Junkie https://ift.tt/L4JFHmV
via IFTTT
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Sean Strickland: Israel Adesanya title fight '100 percent should be in the cards' with win over Abus Magomedov

Sean Strickland thinks a fight with Israel Adesanya is imminent if he can get past Abus Magomedov . Strickland (26-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) meets Magomedov (25-4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) July 1 at a UFC Fight Night main event at the UFC Apex. Strickland is one of the few top-ranked contenders to never face middleweight champion Adesanya (23-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC), so he sees title implications with a win. “If this fight goes my way, it 100 percent should be in the cards,” Strickland told My MMA News . “I f*cking had a close decision with f*cking – what the f*ck was that guy’s name? Jared Cannonier, you knocked some brain cells out of me. Solid guy. Thought I won on the scorecards, but it is what it is. I truly believe I should be the one fighting Izzy, but I lost fair and square. I’ll pay my tenants. I’ll get some Ws, but yeah, that one needs to happen.” Strickland being matched up with Magomedov came as a surprise, considering Magomedov has only one octagon win. Strickland admits it’s not the fight he...
Read more

Max Griffin offended by booking against Michael Morales: 'They're sending a guy that they think can beat me'

LAS VEGAS – Max Griffin is not exactly happy with his matchup against Michael Morales . The 37-year-old welterweight veteran is set to take on Michael Morales on the main card of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 47 at the UFC Apex. This booking made Griffin (19-9 MMA, 7-7 UFC) feel like he’s been set up to be a stepping stone for Morales (14-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who’s unbeaten and just 24 years old – and that has Griffin fuming. “I have a thing for these new guys: I get offended,” Griffin told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 47 media day. “So it’s another guy, 14-0, fought Trevin Giles. That was a terrible fight from Trevin Giles. He beat him in the beginning but burned his arms out, getting sloppy, and got knocked out. … He (Morales) ain’t fought nobody. It’s not even about who y’all fought, but I am me. I am him. I’m not the guy you want to fight when you’re that raw, that new.” Although there’s something to be said about Morales’s promise and rise, Griffin is not getting caught in a ba...
Read more

UFC free fight: Amir Albazi clamps on rear-naked choke to tap Francisco Figueiredo in first

Amir Albazi showed off his finishing prowress at one of the biggest pay-per-view cards of 2022. At UFC 278 last August, Albazi made quick work of Francisco Figueiredo, winning the fight in the first round with a rear-naked choke submission. The victory was his third of three fights in the UFC, and his second first-round finish. You can watch Albazi’s fantastic performance against Figueiredo in the video above. Related UFC on ESPN 45 pre-event facts: Jim Miller can add to octagon wins record, be first to 25 Albazi returns to action Saturday for his first main event under the UFC banner at UFC on ESPN 45 . He takes on Kai Kara-France in a flyweight matchup. The event takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and airs live on ESPN and ESPN+. Albazi (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will look to extend his current win streak to six straight. He enters Saturday’s main even on the heels of a third-round finish of Alessandro Costa in December. Kara-France (24-10 MMA, 7-3 UFC) will look to retur...
Read more