Rafael dos Anjos Targets July Return, Says He’s Done Competing at Lightweight

The days of Rafael dos Anjos making the cut to 155 pounds appear to be a thing of the past.

In a post on social media, the former UFC lighweight champion requested to be removed from the promotion’s rankings at 155 pounds. Dos Anjos’ last Octagon appearance was at lightweight, as he dropped a unanimous verdict to Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 299 on March 9.

“Get me out of [the lightweight] rankings,” dos Anjos wrote on X. “For you [lightweights calling me out, I don’t compete at [lightweight from] now on. I have nothing to prove to nobody. I walk around 195 at 39 years old. There’s lots of fights that make sense to me at 170. I want to fight in July. [UFC] get me back in that Octagon.”

Get me out of LW rankings. For you LW out there calling me out I don’t compete at LW now on. I have nothing to prove to nobody, I walk around 195 at 39 years old. There’s lots of fights that make sense to me at 170.
I want to fight in July @ufc get me back in that octagon.

— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) May 15, 2024

Dos Anjos has vacillated between lightweight and welterweight in recent years. He initially made the move to 170 pounds in 2017, earning consecutive triumphs over Tarec Saffiedine, Neil Magny and Robbie Lawler in his first three appearances in the weight class. The Rio de Janeiro native is 5-4 at welterweight overall, with his most recent victory in the division coming against Bryan Barberena in December 2022.