While waiting for his next fight after beating Paul Felder
in his return to lightweight this past November, former champion
Rafael dos
Anjos shared his opinion regarding the future of the division
following the main bouts of UFC 257.
“Hooker didnt show up to fight, I have no doubt Chandler is a tough
guy, but I agree with Poirier when he said he wouldn’t fight him
for the belt,” dos Anjos told Sherdog.com. “There are a lot of top
guys in this division like [Charles
Oliveira]and [Justin
Gaethje] who worked hard, and had a lot of tough fights to
reach the top of the rankings. He should, at least, face one more
challenge before fighting for the gold.”
However, dos Anjos would be more than willing to step in if the UFC
offered him a matchup against Chandler — or any other top contender
with some momentum.
“I´m game all the time. If UFC invites me to face
Chandler, I´m ready to go,” he said. “I’d rather face someone
coming from a win like Poirier, Chandler or ‘Do Bronx’ than [Tony]
Ferguson or Gaethje, who are coming from defeats.”
As far as a showdown with Conor
McGregor, dos Anjos doesn’t foresee that bout entering the
matchmakers’ plans. Dos Anjos and McGregor were supposed to meet at
UFC 196 before the Brazilian broke his foot, paving the way for the
Irishman’s rivalry with Nate Diaz.
“I dont see myself as a good option for
Conor. I´m a southpaw, I have a grappling game that is dangerous
for him, I use a lot of those calf kicks,” dos Anjos said. “In my
opinion, it would be much more interesting if they promote a
trilogy with Poirier or Diaz. The same works for Diaz. My game just
doesn’t fit with his style, and the biggest proof for that is
that I submitted him easily and he never asked for a rematch. I´m a
better grappler, better striker and my jiu-jitsu is superior to
his. So I understand why he never called my name again.”
Dos Anjos also revealed that as soon as UFC and his manager decides
his next opponent he will return to Brazil to begin his camp
at Nova União.
“In Brazil we say that we don’t make changes to a winning team,” he
said. “Working with Pederneiras and all his structures was such a
great experience. Be sure that in Nova União I will always bring
the best Rafael dos Anjos to the Octagon, and soon I´ll be fighting
for that belt again.”