Sherdog’s Top 10: Fighters Who Lost Their Pro Debuts

2. Rafael dos Anjos
Dos Anjos has risen to the top of the lightweight division and surfaced as a pound-for-pound mainstay, but there have been a few hiccups along the way. The Brazilian not only lost his first two fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship but also tasted defeat in his professional debut. Dos Anjos met Adriano Abu at a Juiz de For a Fight show in his native Brazil on Sept. 25, 2004, losing a split decision.

The setback did not dissuade dos Anjos, who won 11 of his next 12 bouts to punch his ticket to the UFC. He went 4-4 in his first eight appearances inside the Octagon and then took off, eventually posting wins over Donald Cerrone (twice), Benson Henderson, Nate Diaz and Evan Dunham, among others. Dos Anjos captured the lightweight crown with a five-round thrashing of Anthony Pettis at UFC 185 and has the look of a dominant champion.

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