Cordeiro praises Dos Anjos' performance at UFC 185: 'Best performance of his life'

Cordeiro (left) celebrates Dos Anjos' UFC victory. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Rafael Cordeiro has been involved with elite MMA athletes for a long time, having worked closely with the likes of Wanderlei Silva, Mauritius Shogun e Fabricio Werdum. His already rich history within the sport gained another chapter last Saturday (14), when his pupil Rafael dos Anjos debunked Anthony Pettis to win the UFC lightweight belt. Given the veteran coach's successful past, it draws attention when Cordeiro classifies the newest champion's performance as “the best of his life”.

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An underdog on the betting markets, Dos Anjos defeated Pettis in a dominant fashion, being considered the winner by all three judges and in all five rounds of competition. Cordeiro was full of praise for the Brazilian's performance. “Rafael fought lightly, we knew how to beat Pettis in every way. Everything that was prepared in the gym, [Roberto] Gordo's jiu-jitsu, the technical part, everything led to the victory. He fought without pressure, he fought with the champion and he fought like a champion. It was a champion's dominance. It was certainly the greatest performance of Rafael's life. Dominant performance. It’s not every day that a guy dominates Pettis for five rounds,” said Cordeiro, in an interview with the “Combate” channel website.

Dos Anjos' first title defense will be against the winner of the fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov e Donald Cerrone, who face each other in May. Cordeiro hopes that the Russian emerges victorious so that Dos Anjos can avenge his last defeat, precisely to Nurmagomedov, last year. “I think Khabib gives it and we're going to have a rematch with Rafa so he can get rid of what he's been choking on. It's a tough fight between Nurmagomedov and Cerrone, but I think Khabib wins. We're going to have to play with wrestling on top and jiu-jitsu on top. Now let's break it down. Is right. We will break this Russian, God willing. Our big moment has now arrived and we are going with everything,” he said.

With last Saturday's result, Dos Anjos became the first Brazilian in history to win the UFC lightweight belt. At 30 years old, the athlete has a record of 24 wins and seven losses in professional MMA.

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