Issue 126

March 2015

Expect fireworks when ‘Showtime’ faces the 155lb division’s leading contender at UFC 185 – just don’t expect it to go the distance

In the 18th fight of a UFC career stretching back to 2008, Rafael dos Anjos (23-7) becomes only the second Brazilian to ever fight for the UFC lightweight title. Only Hermes Franca has been there before and he dropped a clear, indisputable decision to Sean Sherk in 2007. This fight will likely be very different, though few are likely to back the Brazilian to dethrone champion Anthony Pettis (18-2).

The 155lb title holder has had an incredible four-fight run since struggling somewhat in his first two UFC fights. First he was outworked and continually taken down by Clay Guida en route to the second decision loss of his career. A better – but hardly impressive – showing followed when he took a close decision victory over Jeremy Stephens in a largely mat-based fight.  

But any memories of those first post-WEC outings were erased as he blitzed leading contenders Joe Lauzon and Donald Cerrone in less than four minutes combined. Both normally-durable men were finished with bonus-winning kicks and punches.

The “unsubmittable” Benson Henderson was next to fall. Pettis triumphed over ‘Smooth’ for the second time – the first was for the WEC title when that ‘Showtime’ kick helped secure the decision victory. The new champ, in his hometown of Milwaukee, sunk in a perfect and lightning-fast armbar late in the first round to win the belt, but then a knee injury and a coaching stint on TUF 20 delayed his first title defense until some 15 months later.

When he finally returned, title challenger Gilbert Melendez used constant pressure in the clinch and aggressive work for takedowns to take the first round. However, the 28-year-old champion is a clinical finisher and after he hurt the former Strikeforce champ with a front kick and a hard right hand, Pettis put the fight to bed with a guillotine. He was the first man to ever finish the Cesar Gracie black belt, which was impressive enough, but to do it via submission was even more striking.

Dos Anjos, meanwhile, has won eight of his last nine fights. His only blemish came via decision after he was physically dominated and repeatedly taken down by Khabib Nurmagomedov in April 2014. The undefeated Dagestani more than deserves this title shot, but he is still on the sidelines, recovering from a knee injury.  

In his place, Dos Anjos is a worthy challenger. Of his eight wins he finished Kamal Shalorous inside two minutes; scored four straight decision wins over Anthony Njokuani, Mark Bocek, Evan Dunham and Donald Cerrone; then stopped Jason High before he took out former champ Henderson and dominated Nate Diaz.

A professional fighter since 2004, Dos Anjos has just four stoppage wins, but the way he put George Sotiropoulos’ lights out with a whopping right hand in 2011 and the crisp power punching that earned him a first-round TKO win over Henderson in August means he’s still dangerous on his feet. He’s also tough and difficult to put away – he once battled Clay Guida for several minutes with a broken jaw. However, he’s never faced anyone with the kind of one-shot destructive power as his upcoming opponent.

Dos Anjos’ well-rounded game has gradually improved over the last few years and it was all on display in his last fight. He pressured, pushed and punched Diaz for three full rounds, making one of the sport’s more talented lightweights look a complete novice to book his title shot. 

Though the 30-year-old is unfancied by bookmakers, he is confident ahead of this huge task. “I like to be the underdog, I’m used to it,” he said. “I fight well when I have big challenges. I knocked Benson Henderson out and I’ll do the same with Pettis.  

“You have to put pressure on Pettis,” he added. “Otherwise he starts to throw those kicks that he has. He’s a creative guy. I think that you have to not let him breathe. He’s a human bein. He has already lost and made mistakes.”

Pettis, who responded by saying the fight would be over inside a round, has so many ways to win a fight. He’s exceptional on the feet, outstanding on the mat and deadly even with his back to the cage.  

Pettis is one of the best lightweights ever. Dos Anjos is a very good fighter, but he’s not good enough to bridge the gap to the champ. Expect another explosive, quick-fire finish from ‘Showtime’ on March 14th.