Rafael dos Anjos wants to take Islam Makhachev out, then move on to a rematch against the Russian Eagle himself, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
That’s according to Twitter, where dos Anjos posted: “I just heard back from the UFC that Islam accepted to fight me Oct 30 5 rounds in Abu Dhabi and Khabib agreed to come out of retirement to avenge his brother’s loss after that.”
RDA wants Islam first, then Khabib
When dos Anjos and Nurmagomedov last fought, the Russian won the fight via unanimous decision. Since then, Khabib maintained his perfect record, eventually retiring as undefeated lightweight champion with a whopping 29 wins and 0 losses.
Curiously, following that fight, Khabib succumbed to an injury, allowing dos Anjos to challenge for the lightweight title before him. Dos Anjos eventually defeated Anthony Pettis in 2015, taking the title for himself, although it wasn’t long before Eddie Alvarez came along to relieve dos Anjos of the position.
Khabib had to wait a little longer, eventually claiming the title in 2018 when he defeated Al Iaquinta. Nurmagomedov famously retired from MMA after successfully defending the title against Justin Gaethje. None of this has stopped dos Anjos wanting revenge.
Islam Makhachev, on the other hand, is the lightweight division’s rising star, heir apparent to the Nurmagomedov legacy. A fellow Dagestani with a similar grappling-oriented mauling style, Makhachev is fresh off a submission victory over Thiago Moises last Saturday night.
Many in Makhachev’s camp have named him a future champion, the clear successor to Khabib’s dominant reign in the lightweight division. Dos Anjos, a former champion ranked #7 in the lightweight division, may prove to be the logical stepping stone on Islam’s way to the top.
RDA is clearly joking in his tweet, but a Makahachev v dos Anjos bout may well take place. Makhachev called dos Anjos out following his win on the weekend, and a fight with Khabib’s protege may be as close as Rafael dos Anjos gets to the rematch he’s wanted for so long.
Besides, UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi would allow Khabib’s enormous Russian and Middle Eastern following to see Makhachev in real time, if not at the arena itself.
What do you think? Do you want to see Makhachev v dos Anjos take place, and is UFC 267 the place to do it? Can dos Anjos get revenge for his loss to Khabib, or will he be yet another scalp on Makhachev’s belt as the young Russian climbs to the top? Let us know in the comments.
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