Tag: Rafael dos Anjos

Rafael dos Anjos knows finish line closer than start, but still truckin’ at UFC 299

Rafael dos Anjos has been around the block in the UFC, and he seems to have a realistic view on what’s left in the tank.

MIAMI – [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] has been around the block in the UFC, and he seems to have a realistic view on what’s left in the tank.

At 39, dos Anjos nearly is eight years removed from when he lost the UFC lightweight title to Eddie Alvarez after one successful title defense. He’s had a welterweight title shot since then, but the los to Alvarez started his current slide, which sees him at 7-8 over the two divisions.

But despite the recent setbacks, and the likelihood that a return to title contention would be a monumental undertaking, dos Anjos (32-15 MMA, 21-13 UFC) said he’s not considering retirement ahead of his lightweight fight against Mateusz Gamrot (23-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) at UFC 299 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) on Saturday at Kaseya Center in Miami.

“I’m not just listening to my body, but also how are you performing, and I look at my previous fights and I’m still performing well,” dos Anjos told MMA Junkie and other reporters at media day for UFC 299. “I’m still going at this with bigger guys and younger guys and still training. As long as I’m around and able to train and performing well, I’m going to keep doing it.”

Gamrot’s trajectory has been mostly upward after he got past the hurdle of a loss to Guram Kutatedladze in his promotional debut in 2020, which was the first loss of his career. Only a decision setback to perennial contender Beneil Dariush has kept. him from perfect in that stretch, including three post-fight bonus awards.

Gamrot is as much as a 5-1 betting favorite, making him by far the biggest favorite in South Florida this week. But Brazil’s dos Anjos seems to realize how stern the test in front of him might wind up being – and he thinks it could be a banger for the fans, too, which might be as satisfying as getting back in the title picture.

“Since I’m not getting any big names right now – Gamrot’s a big name, but he’s not a UFC star – I’m just happy to be able to provide for my family and keep competing. I think having good performances, big fights will come.”

Check out dos Anjos’ full interview in the video above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

UFC 299 pre-event facts: Inside the numbers of stacked Miami lineup

The best facts and figures about UFC 299, which features an absolutely stacked lineup with history on the line for multiple fighters.

The final event in the 200s-era of numbered UFC cards goes down Saturday at UFC 299, and the event from Kaseya Center (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) is one of the most stacked in recent memory.

A lineup filled with a plethora of former title challengers, top-ranked contenders and more, is headline by a bantamweight title rematch. Reigning champ [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) will attempt to make his first defense while simultaneously trying to avenge his only career loss against [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] (21-8-1 MMA, 15-7 UFC), who won the first matchup by first-round TKO at UFC 252 in August 2020.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts for UFC 299.

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Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera

The 10 greatest UFC championship fight performances of all time, ranked

Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva highlight some of the greatest performances in UFC championship history.

The term “rising to the occasion” can often feel like a trite one in combat sports.

However, when looking deeper into the application of that saying, I noticed that many of the examples that come to mind – arguably across all sports – are instances that involve raised stakes and championship titles.

For the UFC, this generally falls under the category of championship titles given that they haven’t been awarding tournament titles since Dan Henderson beat Carlos Newton back at UFC 17 in 1998.

So, with this being such a broad topic to cover, I thought it would be fun to narrow down my favorite championship performances that have taken place in the UFC in the form of a top 10 list.

As usual, these lists reflect my personal tastes and biases and are not meant to serve as some ultimate authority. That said, I feel very strongly about not only my list but also my honorable mentions at the end – which are more than strong enough to serve as their own top ten.

So, without further ado…

Paddy Pimblett questions why ‘stupid bastard’ Rafael dos Anjos called him out after UFC 296

Paddy Pimblett would gladly face Rafael dos Anjos but doesn’t understand why the former UFC champ called him out if he’s already booked.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] doesn’t get why [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] called him out if he’s already booked for a fight.

Dos Anjos mocked Pimblett (21-3 MMA, 5-0 UFC) after his unanimous decision win over the skidding Tony Ferguson (25-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC) this past Saturday at UFC 296.

Dos Anjos (32-15 MMA, 21-13 UFC) took to Twitter to sarcastically laud Pimblett then claimed he’d beat him without a fight camp. “The Baddy” said he’s open to adding another big name to his resume.

“The hype is real.”

“You guys didn’t get the joke. Pimblett is terrible. I would beat this kid without a fight camp.”

“Yeah,” Pimblett told reporters about fighting dos Anjos at the UFC 296 post-fight press conference. “He’s another legend, former champ, just like Tony. RDA is very good.”

When told dos Anjos already has a fight booked against Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 299 on March 9, Pimblett wondered why the former UFC lightweight champion is even calling him out.

“What the f*ck is he mentioning me for then? Stupid bastard,” Pimblett said. “Focus on who you’ve got to fight. But, yeah, everybody’s going to mention me, aren’t they? And it’s just because of like, the little thing around me name and the fact that I’ve got so many followers.

“That’s what it is, but as I say, I wouldn’t disrespect RDA. He’s a former champ, one of the future legends of the sport. But he’s another one that’s getting a bit old now. And if he wants me to take him out, I will.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.

Former champ Rafael dos Anjos returns to lightweight to fight Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 299 in March

Rafael dos Anjos will return to lightweight at UFC 299 with an opportunity to disrupt the top of the division.

[autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] will return to lightweight with an opportunity to disrupt the top of the division.

Dos Anjos, 39, has made his last two octagon appearances at welterweight. But for his next fight, he’s going back to the division where he was once UFC champion as he’s set to meet [autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag] in a 155-pound bout March 9 at UFC 299.

The event is expected to take place in Miami, but the promotion has yet to officially confirm the location and venue.

Despite not competing as a lightweight since July 2022, Dos Anjos (32-15 MMA, 21-13 UFC) remains No. 11in the official UFC rankings, while Gamrot (23-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is No. 6.

Gamrot, 33, had been on a four-fight winning streak before he lost to Beneil Dariush in October 2022. Since then, he’s earned back-to-back victories against Jalin Turner (by split decision) and most recently Rafael Fiziev (by injury TKO) this past September.

In his two most recent appearances at welterweight, dos Anjos choked out Bryan Barberena last year and followed up with a unanimous decision loss to Vicente Luque in a five-round headliner this past August.

The updated UFC 299 card includes:

  • Champ Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera – for bantamweight title
  • Maycee Barber vs. Katlyn Chookagian
  • Jailton Almeida vs. Curtis Blaydes
  • Rafael dos Anjos vs. Mateusz Gamrot
  • Pedro Munhoz vs. Kyler Phillips
  • Lauren Murphy vs. Karine Silva
  • Asu Almabaev vs. CJ Vergara

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Rafael dos Anjos after UFC on ESPN 51 loss?

See who Rafael dos Anjos should fight next after his loss to Vicente Luque in the UFC on ESPN 51 headliner.

[autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] once again experienced the struggle and wrath of being an undersized welterweight Saturday when he was controlled and outworked by Vicente Luque in the UFC on ESPN 51 headliner.

Former lightweight champion dos Anjos (33-15 MMA, 21-13 UFC) is at a tricky stage of his career. At 39, he is wise enough to know his body can’t handle the stress of cutting down to 155 pounds anymore. But being at 170 pounds is going to provide the difficult obstacle of facing bigger and stronger men like Luque (22-9-1 MMA, 15-5 UFC), who is not typically known for his takedown ability, but scored a career high eight en route to a unanimous decision win at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

There’s no perfect answer here for “RDA,” honestly. He’s approaching the 15-year anniversary of his UFC debut, and with five fights remaining on his UFC contract, it’s probably hard to turn his nose up at what will likely be the final significant paydays of his combat sports career. The financial upside makes him willing to put himself at a competitive disadvantage for these fights, and that’s just the reality of his current situation.

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The UFC could throw him the bone of giving him some more manageable opposition, however, and that’s why when assessing the lay of the land at welterweight, Gunnar Nelson sticks out as a matchup that could make sense.

Yes, Nelson (19-5-1 MMA, 10-5 UFC) is another grappler whose Plan A would certainly be to take dos Anjos down and submit him, but he is not a physically imposing presence in the division compared to others, nor does he have an exceptional takedown game. There’s a good chance dos Anjos could keep that one standing for long enough to have a solid shot at winning.

On the flip side, too, Nelson is coming off back-to-back wins and has probably earned a shot against a reputable opponent like dos Anjos. He’s struggled to get over the hump when sharing the octagon with high-profile names like Gilbert Burns, Leon Edwards and Demian Maia, and at 35, a fight with dos Anjos might be his final chance to prove he can be something more than he’s shown to this point.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 51.

UFC on ESPN 51 post-event facts: Event ties modern-era record for first-round finishes

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC on ESPN 51, which saw a record-tying number of first-round stoppage results.

The UFC returns to its home base of the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday following three weeks on the road with UFC on ESPN 51, which saw nine of 13 fights end inside the distance.

The main event was one of few that needed the judges. [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] (22-9-1 MMA, 15-5 UFC) managed to outwork former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] (33-15 MMA, 21-13 UFC) to a unanimous decision in the welterweight bout and used a lot of grappling to get it done.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 51.

UFC on ESPN 51 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Two veterans earn max non-title sum of $21,000

UFC on ESPN 51 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 51 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $173,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 51 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 51 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Cub Swanson[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Hakeem Dawodu[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Iasmin Lucindo[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Polyana Viana[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]AJ Dobson[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tafon Nchukwi[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Josh Fremd[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jamie Pickett[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Marcus McGhee[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]JP Buys[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Mike Breeden[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Francis Marshall[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Isaac Dulgarian[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Martin Buday[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Josh Parisian[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jaqueline Amorim[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Montserrat Conejo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Da’Mon Blackshear[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jose Johnson[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Luana Santos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Juliana Miller[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,510; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $51,000 while title challengers get $51,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-51 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,395,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $19,984,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 51.

Twitter reacts to Vicente Luque returning from brain bleed to beat Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on ESPN 51

See the top social media reactions to Vicente Luque’s win over Rafael dos Anjos in the UFC on ESPN 51 main event.

[autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] added another former UFC champion to his resume on Saturday when he defeated [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] in the UFC on ESPN 51 headliner.

Luque (22-9-1 MMA, 15-5 UFC) returned from a concerning brain injury and yearlong layoff and earned a unanimous decision victory over dos Anjos (33-15 MMA, 21-13 UFC) in the welterweight main event, which took place at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.

Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Luque’s win over dos Anjos at UFC on ESPN 51.

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UFC on ESPN 51 results: Takedown, control-happy Vicente Luque outworks Rafael dos Anjos

With a game plan that may have come as a surprise, Vicente Luque’s cage control and grappling were on display in a crucial win.

With a game plan that may have come as a surprise to many, [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag]’s cage control and grappling were on display in a crucial return to the win column.

Luque (22-9-1 MMA, 15-5 UFC) outworked former lightweight champion [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] (32-14 MMA, 21-12 UFC) for a 25-minute unanimous decision Saturday. Luque won with a 49-46 score and a pair of 48-47s in large part thanks to a career-best eight takedowns. The welterweight bout was the UFC on ESPN 51 main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Luque needed special approval from the Nevada commission due to a brain hemorrhage that stemmed from his August 2022 knockout loss to Geoff Neal. But he was cleared to compete, and had a win he said was critical for him – and one he was nervous about before he got hit the first time.

The first round featured a lot of back-and-forth for the first half the frame trading positions on the fence. But when dos Anjos broke away, he did so with a lot of power and the Brazilians traded heavy punches in the center of the cage. Luque landed a solid body punch with 90 seconds left, then went to the body with kicks. Dos Anjos answered with a leaping elbow, then tied things up with some wrestling on the fence.

With 45 seconds left in the round, dos Anjos jumped guard and grabbed a guillotine choke, but Luque fought out of it and got his own control at the end of the frame before the horn.

Midway through the second, after a half-round of looking for openings on the fence, dos Anjos got a takedown. But Luque needed only a second to pop back up, and Luque even took dos Anjos down and controlled him a few seconds later. Luque briefly threatened with a standing arm triangle, but dos Anjos broke away just in time to eat an elbow and a few body kicks.

Luque used more control with his grappling in the third round, but went back to the middle midway through and ate a left and some kicks. Dos Anjos started to let his hands go a little more and found success, then shot for a takedown with 70 seconds left. Luque rolled through it and worked for a D’Arce choke and stayed out of danger.

The fourth and fifth rounds, it was evident Luque’s welterweight size may have been more suited for the long haul than dos Anjos’ welterweight size. In the fight, Luque had more than 10 minutes of control time, which was more than three times as much as dos Anjos – a statistic that would have been easy to predict would be flipped.

Luque snapped a two-fight skid in his return to the cage after a year away. Dos Anjos dropped his second fight back at welterweight after a win in his return to the division in 2022.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 51 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 51.

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