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Rafael dos Anjos vs Rafael Fiziev set to serve as main event for UFC Fight Night on February 19
An entertaining scrap between two lightweights named Rafael is set to serve as the main event for an upcoming UFC Fight Night event scheduled on February 19. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reported on Friday that a fight between Rafael dos Anjos and Rafael Fiziev has been agreed to, although a contract has not been signed for the event which is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas.
This will be a return to action for Rafael dos Anjos for the first time since 2020 when he defeated a split-decision victory over Paul Felder, who took the fight on short notice before he retired. The former UFC lightweight champion had been scheduled to face rising contender Islam Makhachev in both October and November, with major implications in the division but dos Anjos had to withdraw due to injury.
The victory over Felder was the first time that RDA competed in the lightweight division for the first time since 2016. From 2017 until early 2020, Rafael dos Anjos competed in the welterweight division, picking up 4 wins in 8 fights, with victories over Tarec Saffiedine, Neil Magny, Robbie Lawler, and Kevin Lee. His losses in the divisions came to some of the most notable in the division including champion Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, Leon Edwards, and Michael Chiesa.
Earlier this week, Rafael Fiziev took to social media to call out dos Anjos saying that he’s the best Rafael in the promotion, and just days later, the fight is reportedly in the progress of being made.
Face it @RdosAnjosMMA I’m the best Rafael in @ufc pic.twitter.com/HtguBKLnlS
— Rafael “Ataman” Fiziev (@RafaelFiziev) January 2, 2022
Since losing his UFC debut to Magomed Mustafaev, Rafael Fiziev has won five consecutive fights, his last two victories coming against Brad Riddell and Bobby Green, respectfully. Fiziev has taken that momentum of his five-fight winning streak and has seen himself rise into the 11th spot of the lightweight division’s Top-15 rankings.
Here is how the UFC Fight Night event on February 19 currently shapes up:
- Rafael dos Anjos vs Rafael Fiziev
- Kyle Daukaus vs Julian Marquez
- Alexander Romanov vs Ilir Latifi
- Johnny Walker vs Jamahal Hil
- Jesse Strader vs Chad Anheliger
- Austin Lingo vs Jonathan Pearce
- Chas Skelly vs Mark Striegl
- Mario Bautista vs Khalid Taha
- Diana Belbita vs Gloria de Paula
- Jessica-Rose Clark vs Stephanie Egger
