After almost eight years, Brazil will have a fighter competing for the UFC lightweight belt. During the official broadcast of UFC 182, in the early hours of this Sunday (04), the organization announced that Rafael dos Anjos will be the champion's next challenger Anthony Pettis. The fight already has a date and place to take place: March 14, in Dallas, in the main attraction of UFC 185.
Rafael got the right to fight for the belt after winning eight of his last nine fights in the UFC. The athlete, who was born in Rio de Janeiro, also benefited from the Russian's injury Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was responsible for beating the Brazilian in this sequence.
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In turn, Pettis, who has a professional record of 18 wins and two losses, will make his second UFC belt defense. On the first occasion with the title on the line, he submitted Gilbert Melendez at UFC 181 in December.
The first time a Brazilian challenged for the UFC lightweight belt, Hermes França faced Sean Shark at UFC 73 in July 2007 and was dominated for five rounds and lost a unanimous decision from the judges.
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