Rafael “RDA” dos Anjos (29-13 MMA, 18-11 UFC)
Lightweight (155lbs): 14-7 (UFC), Former UFC Lightweight Champion
Welterweight (170lbs): 4-4 (UFC)
Rafael dos Anjos has had a very long and successful UFC and professional mixed martial arts career. Rafael is a former UFC lightweight champion winning the belt back in 2015, defending the title once before losing the belt. RDA has always faced the absolute highest caliber of competition in both the welterweight and especially the lightweight division. Rafael has fought against eight former or current UFC Champions or Interim Champions during his stint with the promotion.
After another loss to more high-level competition in Tony Ferguson, RDA decided to try his hand moving up to the welterweight division. Mid-2016, then 32-year-old RDA started his run off strong at 170lbs with a three-fight win streak against very strong competition. (Tarec Saffiedine, Neil Magny, Robbie Lawler)
RDA has struggled since that hot streak when he first moved up and has lost his last four out of five. Dos Anjos has also faced very high-level competition for each one of those bouts and was never finished. Rafael has elected to end his experiment at welterweight and the 36-year-old will return to the lightweight division to face Paul Felder.
