Rafael Dos Anjos – Complete Profile: Height, Weight, Fight Stats

Rafael dos Anjos is the former two-time UFC Lightweight champion, and currently No.1 UFC Welterweight contender.

Athlete Statistics

Full Name: Rafael Souza dos Anjos
Born Name Nickname Age & DOB
Rafael Souza dos Anjos RDA Rafael dos Anjos is currently 39 years old according to his date of birth October 26, 1984.
Fight Stats Height Weight
29 Wins // 13 Losses // 0 Draws 5 ft 8 in or 173 cm 170 lbs (77 kg)
Reach Fighting Style Association
70 inches (178 cm) Muay Thai, BJJ, Boxing UFC, Team: Evolve MMA
Nationality Net Worth Born Place
Brazilian $2 Million Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Profile

Rafael dos Anjos has built his reputation as a very aggressive and quick striker, with great takedown abilities. In the stand-up, his strongest weapons are left kick to the body and left high kick, followed by a right hook. He has also rocked many opponents with weaving overhand left. He has improved his boxing skills during 2017 a lot.

He mostly goes forward and forces the opponent against the cage where he delivers a flurry of punches or performs a lightning-fast double leg takedown. In the clinch, dos Anjos tries to set up a knee to the body or head or an elbow.

RDA is a 3rd-degree black belt in Muay Thai and a 3rd-dan black belt in BJJ. If the fight is taken to the ground, dos Anjos prefers submission over punches. His most dangerous submissions are armbar, rear-naked choke, and Kimura. His ground and pound game is good, and it includes various punches and elbows. He has the best submission defense in the whole Welterweight division.

Road To The Top

Rafael dos Anjos had his MMA debut at Juiz de Fora – Fight 1 on September 25, 2004, where he was defeated by Adriano Abu via split decision. He joined the UFC with the score of 11-2, after four years of fighting.

Rafael dos Anjos – UFC Career

Rafael dos Anjos is defeated by Jeremy Stephens in his UFC debut at UFC 91 on November 15, 2008, via KO.

He is also defeated by Tyson Griffin at UFC Fight Night 18 on April 1, 2009, via unanimous decision, but he earned his first Fight Of The Night bonus here.

RDA defeated Rob Emerson via unanimous decision at UFC 103 on September 19, 2009.

Dos Anjos was successful versus Kyle Bradley at UFC Fight Night 20 on January 11, 2010, again via unanimous decision.

Rafael dos Anjos earned his first Submission Of The Night award at UFC 112 on April 10, 2010, when he applied textbook armbar on Terry Etim in the second round.

Clay Guida hurt dos Anjos’ jaw at UFC 117 on August 7, 2010, so dos Anjos had to withdraw from the fight in the third round due to a jaw injury. The fight was registered as TKO victory for Guida.

The Brazilian superstar shocked the world when he knocked George Sotiropoulos out at UFC 132 on July 2, 2011, after only 59 seconds in the first round. This was the fastest victory of his career.

RDA is defeated by Gleisson Tibau at UFC 139 on November 19, 2011, via split decision.

Dos Anjos won Kamal Shalorus with an ease via rear-naked choke, after dropping him via head kick at UFC On Fuel TV 3, on May 15, 2012.

UFC On Fuel TV 4, which was on July 11, 2012, will be remembered for dos Anjos’ tremendous decision victory and world-class three rounds versus Anthony Njokuani.

RDA earned one more unanimous decision win against Mark Bocek at UFC 154 on November 17, 2012.

At UFC On FX 8, on May 18, 2013, dos Anjos defeated one more superstar, Evan Dunham, via unanimous decision.

Donald “The Cowboy” Cerrone was defeated successfully at UFC Fight Night 27 on August 28, 2013, via unanimous decision.

Rafael dos Anjos gave a hard time to the current Lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, at UFC On Fox 11, on April 19, 2014. Nurmagomedov won via unanimous decision.

At UFC Fight Night 42, on June 7, 2014, RDA had a successful showdown against Jason High, whom he defeated via TKO.

The Brazilian superstar was a big underdog against Benson Henderson at the main event of UFC Fight Night 49 on August 23, 2014, but won via great KO in the first round. Dos Anjos also earned his first Performance Of The Night award.

Rafael dos Anjos Vs Nate Diaz

Dos Anjos faced Nate Diaz at the co-main event of UFC On Fox 13 on December 13, 2014. Diaz missed weight for huge 5.8 pounds. As soon as the fight opened, dos Anjos showed how good striking skills he has and delivered a lot of excellent punches. RDA was aggressive all the time, not letting Diaz take him down.

Dos Anjos cut Diaz wide open in the second round with great left hand. In the third round, Diaz basically did nothing, dos Anjos took him down and he was hitting him over and over, and won the fight via unanimous decision.

Rafael dos Anjos Vs Anthony Pettis – Lightweight Championship Fight

The two faced at the main event of UFC 185, on March 14, 2015. Dos Anjos was dominant throughout the whole fight and took the belt over from Anthony Pettis. RDA torn his medial knee ligament few weeks before the fight, which makes this victory even bigger. He confessed that he didn’t fight completely fit after the fight. Dos Anjos also earned his second Performance Of The Night award.

Other Fights:

RDA successfully defended the title in the rematch with Donald Cerrone at the main event of UFC On Fox 17, on December 19, 2015, winning the fight via TKO (body kick and punches). Dos Anjos earned his third Performance Of The Night award.

Rafael dos Anjos Vs Conor McGregor

The two should face at UFC 196, on March 5, 2016. Unfortunately, dos Anjos broke his foot during training and had to withdraw from the fight. Conor McGregor was trolling and attacking him on social networks for a very long period of time.

Rafael dos Anjos Vs Eddie Alvarez – Lightweight Title Loss

The two fought on July 7, 2016, at the main event of UFC Fight Night 90. Despite the fighters were given even chances before the match, Eddie Alvarez surprisingly defeated him via TKO in the first round. But there is a good reason for the loss – Rafael dos Anjos passed out for three minutes closely before the fight. It was a consequence of enormous weight cut.

Rafael dos Anjos Vs Tony Ferguson

Their showdown was held at the main event of The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale on November 5, 2016. In a pretty close fight, Tony Ferguson won via unanimous decision. Both fighters received Fight Of The Night bonuses for their performance. After this fight, dos Anjos moved to Welterweight division.

Rafael dos Anjos – Welterweight Career

RDA successfully defeated Tarec Saffiedine on June 17, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 111 via unanimous decision.

His next opponent was Neil Magny at UFC 215 on September 9, 2017. Dos Anjos won via world-class arm-triangle choke in the first round, earning his fourth Performance Of The Night award.

His last victory was the one against Robbie Lawler at UFC on Fox 26 on December 16, 2017. Dos Anjos had a plan – he focused on low leg kicks and punches and kicks to the body. RDA won via unanimous decision.

Rafael dos Anjos – Next Fight

Rafael dos Anjos is scheduled to face currently the biggest trash-talker, Colby Covington, on June 9, 2018, at UFC 225. Covington was already threatening and also insulting dos Anjos’ home country of Brazil. Dos Anjos has the answer from his Brazilian fans. We will see whether dos Anjos will be able to revenge inside the Octagon.

Personal Life

RDA is married to Cristiane dos Anjos. He is a stepfather to her child from the previous marriage, Gustavo, and they have one child together, who is also called Rafael.

Dos Anjos also has a titanium fused jaw, which was made after his jaw fracture in the match against Clay Guida. He is a Christian.

Rafael dos Anjos – Social Media Profiles

 

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