A couple of former UFC champions will go to war in Winnipeg later this year. Former welterweight champ Robbie Lawler has been booked to take on former lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos in the Canadian city, the UFC announced Thursday. The bout will serve as the card’s main event. UFC Winnipeg, otherwise known as UFC on Fox 26, takes place December 16.
One of the most impressive career comeback stories of recent years, “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (28–11 (1)) captured the UFC’s 170lb title against Johny Hendricks in December 2014, and went on to defend the belt twice the following year. After being knocked out by Tyron Woodley at UFC 201 in July 2016, he spent a year away from the cage before returning at UFC 214 this past July. There, he defeated Cowboy Cerrone to get back in the win column. Against dos Anjos at UFC on FOX 26, he’ll look to string together a couple of wins to work his way back into title contention.
Lawler, a heavy-handed striker, was awarded Fight of the Year honors in 2015 for his bloody war against Rory MacDonald at UFC 189. Twenty of his twenty-eight wins have come via KO/TKO.
Former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, meanwhile, has seen something of a resurgence since moving up to welterweight. RDA, who bested Anthony Pettis to win the 155lb title in the UFC, lost the strap to Eddie Alvarez, then suffered a defeat against Tony Ferguson back in November 2016. Since then, having moved up to welterweight, he’s 2-0 with wins over former Strikeforce champ Tarec Saffiedine and Neil Magny.
UFC Winnipeg (UFC on FOX 26) takes place December 16 at the Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The following bouts have been slated for the card thus far:
Robbie Lawler vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Antônio Rogério Nogueira vs. Jared Cannonier
Alessio Di Chirico vs. Oluwale Bamgbose
Vitor Miranda vs. Julian Marquez
Tim Elliott vs. Justin Scoggins
Glover Teixeira vs. Misha Cirkunov
John Makdessi vs. Abel Trujillo
