Rafael Dos Anjos Says Gaethje, Chandler And Top LWs Wouldn’t Fight Him

Rafael dos Anjos plans to become UFC champion again, but the future Hall of Famer won’t be fighting a top 5 ranked opponent when he returns to the Octagon on Saturday night… as RDA tells Olasmediatv.com Sports the guys at the top of the division just won’t fight him.

“We’re trying to get a fight with all the guys ahead of me in the rankings, but nobody seems to want to fight,” says dos Anjos at number 7, adding that many fighters will only encounter guys who are ranked higher than them.

We asked the upcoming 38-year-old fighter – who has beaten men like Nate Diaz† Robbie Lawlerand Donald Cerrone – especially who turned down the fight.

“Everyone. We’ve tried everyone. We’ve tried [Michael] Chandlerwe tried [Justin] Gaethje† We’ve tried everyone. It doesn’t seem to work. We’ve thrown out all the names. Trying to get a better fight with a better ranked opponent. But besides Beneil Dariush, he’s my friend, I didn’t try to fight him. But other than that, it seems like no one wants to take a ‘step back’.”

FYI, there is (technically) no lightweight champion. The band has been stripped of Charles Oliveira (#1) after missing weight prior to his fight with Justin (#3) in May. Dustin Poirier is number 2, Islam Makhachevi #4, Chandler #5 and Dariush is #6.

As for the guy who fights RDA…29 year old Rafael Fizievi is a wild one. He is in 10th place and has only lost once (11-1) in his professional career. RF last fought in December 2021…when he was knocked out Brad Riddell with a spinning head kick on the final lap.

Both top 10 fighters are trying to get to the same place… the top of the lightweight division. Dos Anjos has been there before… beat Anthony Pettis for the LW belt in 2015.

Fiziev tries to make his way to the top for the first time.

Bottom line… only one Rafael can come out on top on Saturday night.