Rafael dos Anjos was not pleased to learn that Michael Chandler had turned a fight with him down.
Dos Anjos was set to return to lightweight and face Islam Makhachev in the UFC Vegas 14 headliner next weekend. However, it was reported Sunday that Makhachev had to pull out due to staph infection as the search for a short-notice replacement began.
“RDA” — along with many in the combat sports world — wanted new UFC signing Chandler to step in and make his promotional bow against him.
Unfortunately, that won’t be happening as Chandler has “other plans” for now.
“I was sleeping…now I’m addressing: we have other plans,” Chandler responded to a fan about fighting Dos Anjos.
Dos Anjos: Shame On You
As one would expect, Dos Anjos did not take that too well. The former lightweight king took to Twitter where he responded to Chandler soon after with a strong message.
“If you don’t take a fight because you don’t have enough time to drop weight I get it but don’t tell me you have other plans. I became the champion of the BIGGEST organization fighting everyone they put in front of me. Shame on you.”
If you don’t take a fight because you don’t have enough time to drop weight I get it but don’t tell me you have other plans.
I became the champion of the BIGGEST organization fighting everyone they put in front of me. Shame on you.
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) November 9, 2020
With seemingly no other attractive option at lightweight — especially for a short-notice fight — it looks like the Brazilian will now have to look for a catchweight or welterweight bout instead. Santiago Ponzinibbio is one such option.
“Santiago Ponzinibbio (@SPonzinibbioMMA) is one welterweight who has offered to fight Rafael dos Anjos on short notice, according to his manager Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00). Ponzinibbio is currently scheduled to fight in January.”
Dos Anjos, a former champ at 155, is moving down from 170 pounds for the first time since 2016. He told me his weight is already low, lower than 170 pounds, but if there are no lightweight options, he'd at least consider a catchweight or welterweight fight.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) November 9, 2020
Santiago Ponzinibbio (@SPonzinibbioMMA) is one welterweight who has offered to fight Rafael dos Anjos on short notice, according to his manager Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00). Ponzinibbio is currently scheduled to fight in January.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) November 9, 2020
Whoever eventually steps up, Dos Anjos plans on beating somebody on Saturday.
“I am going to beat somebody up on Saturday. I just don’t know who it will be yet,” Dos Anjos tweeted via translation.
Vou bater em alguém sábado, só não sei quem é…
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) November 9, 2020
UFC Vegas 14 takes place at the Apex facility in Las Vegas on Saturday with Dos Anjos looking to snap a two-fight losing streak.
