Rafael Dos Anjos’ Next Fight Should Be His Last

To understand Dos Anjos’ plight, it helps to hark back to the peak of his career.

This is not the first time Dos Anjos has hurt his knee during his career. Most memorably, he had torn his MCL before winning the lightweight title from Anthony Pettis at UFC 185 in 2015.

The title win against Pettis, in turn, is considered one of the most shocking in the promotion’s history. While Dos Anjos was a capable contender on a three-win streak, he was still a relative unknown to a good portion of the fanbase. Pettis, meanwhile, looked to be among the next batch of MMA superstars, having landed endorsement deals with Reebok and Wheaties.

The matchup was not even close. Despite having only one healthy leg, Dos Anjos utterly dominated Pettis over five rounds, ultimately sweeping the scorecards. The UFC executives could be said to have been so appalled at the outcome that they resolved to find someone popular who could unseat him.

Donald Cerrone came next. He had gone on a tear since his first loss to Dos Anjos, winning eight straight fights. Unfortunately, “Cowboy” was destroyed with punches just 66 seconds into the rematch. The champion was suddenly starting to get noticed, but his momentum then ground to a halt.

A foot injury forced Dos Anjos out of a superfight against Conor McGregor. Dos Anjos then lost the title to Eddie Alvarez. Another loss, this time to Tony Ferguson, led him to make a change: Dos Anjos was going 15 pounds north. He initially acquitted himself well as a welterweight, winning three straight, including a dominant victory over former champion Robbie Lawler, to secure a title shot.

The championship showdown came against Colby Covington for an interim belt at UFC 225, but it did not go as Dos Anjos had hoped. He lost by decision, beginning a 1-4 stretch that marked the end of him as a contender.

What Now?

Dos Anjos has since become something of a nomad, alternating between lightweight and welterweight. He is still a capable veteran, but it is clear that his best days are behind him, as he is currently on a three-fight skid.

Astonishingly, there are some names that the former champion has yet to cross paths with in his career. Jim Miller is another mega-veteran nearing 50 fights in the Octagon, and he will incidentally be Dos Anjos’ 50th fight should it materialize.

King Green is yet another fellow veteran and fresh face who is coming off a win in his last fight. Alternatively, if Dos Anjos is told to gatekeep one last time, there is former featherweight challenger Brian Ortega, whose UFC 326 rematch against Renato Moicano has reportedly been axed.

End Of My Rafael Dos Anjos Rant

From Dos Anjos’ rise in the lightweight rankings to his welterweight renaissance, he was at one point one of the best fighters to grace the cage. Years have passed since then, however, and the wear and tear have accumulated over more than eight hours of fight time.

MMA, like most combat sports, is damage-intensive. It leaves people battered and broken even well after the final bell has sounded, and Dos Anjos is no different. If he wants to still be whole for the rest of his life, then he must make the wise choice and walk away in 2026.