Rafael dos Anjos is eager to quench his competitive thirst as he prepares to face Vicente Luque in the UFC on ESPN 51 welterweight headliner. The 38-year-old Brazilian fighter aims to achieve his 22nd Ultimate Fighting Championship victory in the upcoming match scheduled for Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. With three wins in his last four bouts, dos Anjos’ most recent appearance was on December 3, where he defeated Bryan Barberena with a neck crank in the second round of their UFC on ESPN 42 encounter.
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1. Initial adversity emboldened him.
Dos Anjos made his professional mixed martial arts debut at the age of 19 on September 25, 2004, only to lose in a split decision against Adriano Abu at a Juiz de Fora Fight event. Despite losing two out of his first four appearances, dos Anjos persevered and went on to secure nine consecutive victories that ultimately led him to the UFC.
2. He has made the rounds in terms of training.
Over the course of his career, the worldly Brazilian has trained in top-notch facilities such as Evolve MMA, Kings MMA, RVCA, and Nova Uniao. These training experiences have allowed him to work with some of the sport’s most revered coaches, including Rafael Cordeiro, Andre Pederneiras, and Jason Parillo.
3. His time at the top was brief.
Dos Anjos clinched the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight crown after defeating Anthony Pettis at UFC 185 on March 14, 2015. However, his reign was short-lived as he lost the title in a first-round technical knockout against Eddie Alvarez on July 7, 2016. With a 481-day reign, dos Anjos ranks as the fifth-shortest in the history of the 155-pound weight class.
4. No one can match his staying power.
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt holds a unique record as the only UFC competitor to surpass eight hours of fight time inside the Octagon. Currently, dos Anjos’ total fight time stands at 8:01:49, ahead of other notable fighters like Frankie Edgar, Max Holloway, Demian Maia, and Clay Guida.
5. Longevity completes the picture.
Dos Anjos’ career spans across three different decades, boasting a 3-2 record in the 2020s, a 17-8 record in the 2010s, and a 12-4 record in the 2000s. As a model of consistency, he has fought at least once in every calendar year of his career, with the exception of 2021.