Tag Archives: Brad Riddell

Rafael dos Anjos In Talks to Fight Rafael Fiziev in “UFC Fight Night” This Summer

Posted on by
Reply

Rafael dos Anjos could be heading back to the Octagon this summer…

The UFC is targeting a lightweight main event between the 37-year-old Brazilian American professional mixed martial artist and Rafael Fiziev on July 9, according to ESPN.

Rafael dos AnjosContracts haven’t been signed yet, but the UFC is close to finalizing the 155-pound fight.

It will headline UFC Fight Night at a location to be determined.

This will be the third time the UFC has booked this particular matchup. The fight was supposed to happen at a UFC Fight Night event in February but was postponed to March. It fell through again in March after Fiziev tested positive for COVID-19.

Dos Anjos (31-13) ended up fighting Renato Moicano in March and won via unanimous decision.

The former lightweight champ has won his past two via decision, against Moicano and Paul Felder.

Fiziev (11-1), of Kyrgyzstan, is quickly rising up the lightweight rankings thanks to a five-fight win streak. Most recently, he knocked out Brad Riddell in December.

Dos Anjos and Fiziev are Nos. 6 and 10 in the UFC’s official rankings.

Rafael dos Anjos’ Fight Against Rafael Fiziev Moved to UFC 272 in March

Posted on by
Reply

Rafael dos Anjos’ return is being postponed slightly…

The 37-year-old Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former UFC lightweight champion will now face off against Rafael Fiziev in the lightweight co-main event of UFC 272 on March 5 in Las Vegas, according to ESPN.

Rafael dos Anjosdos Anjos was initially scheduled to take on Fiziev for the UFC Fight Night headliner on February 19 in Las Vegas.

Fiziev reportedly had a visa delay, leading to the change. dos Anjos vs. Fiziev will remain a five-round fight, per sources.

The new UFC Fight Night main event on February 19 will be a five-round light heavyweight bout between Johnny Walker and Jamahal Hill, sources said.

Walker vs. Hill was initially scheduled as the UFC Fight Night co-main event.

dos Anjos (30-13) has not fought since a split-decision win over Paul Felder in November 2020.

The Brazilian-born fighter, who lives in California, moved back to lightweight for that bout after three years at welterweight. dos Anjos had dropped four of five fights against top 170-pound fighters before moving back down to 155, where he was the UFC champ in 2015 and 2016.

Fiziev (11-1) has won five in a row after dropping his UFC debut in 2019. The Kazakhstan-born fighter of Kyrgyzstani descent has won two of his last three fights via knockout, the most recent a third-round spinning wheel kick finish of Brad Riddell in December. Fiziev, 28, is considered one of the top young strikers in MMA.

UFC 272 will be headlined by a welterweight grudge match between former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal, owner of the mythical BMF title.