Dos Anjos mocks UFC's 'punishment' of Makhachev after 'bluff' about accepting fight at UFC Las Vegas 50

R. Dos Anjos (photo) has already had three fights canceled against I. Makhachev. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Featured in UFC Las Vegas 50, Rafael dos Anjos had more reasons to smile, besides his dominant victory against Renato Moicano. Days after the gala presentation, the former company champion did not miss the opportunity to poke Islam makhachev, who was 'punished' by Ultimate, after a bluff about accepting to replace Raphael Fiziev against GDR. As punishment, the Russian no longer had a guaranteed title shot for his next challenge.

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“It’s an incredible feeling, very good. I even texted Beneil (Dariush). ‘Now, you’ve won your fight back.’ That's the price you pay for playing politics. He joked and now his title shot has been withdrawn. He will need to do one more fight,” said Dos Anjos, in an interview with ‘The MMA Hour'.

Last week, RDA experienced moments of uncertainty upon learning that its initial opponent, Raphael Fiziev, had tested positive for Covid-19 and could not present himself at the UFC Las Vegas 50. From then on, Islam took to social media, offering to face the Brazilian in a long-awaited lightweight fight. The former champion accepted and, as a result, the Russian ended up getting into trouble.

“I called his bluff. I think that was it. They probably thought: ‘RDA will never accept this fight at welterweight’. Wants to know? I was training and didn't want to waste an entire training period. I hadn't fought in a year and a half. I just wanted to fight someone”, assured Dos Anjos.

With Makhachev's subsequent denial, reported by Ultimate's president, Dana White, Renato Moicano was chosen to ‘save the card’. Disappointed with the Russian, the UFC president stated that the athlete will need to take a step back and face Beneil Dariush, initial opponent of the pupil of Khabib Nurmagomedov No. UFC Las Vegas 49, who ended up leaving the show due to injury.