Nurmagomedov (right) beat Dos Anjos (left) in his last fight, in April 2014. Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Last Saturday (19), Rafael dos Anjos successfully made his first defense of the UFC lightweight belt by knocking out Donald Cerrone in just over a minute in Orlando, in the United States. However, even though the Brazilian has shown that he is the man to beat in the category, his last tormentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, believes that the champion still has something to prove in the division.
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Nurmagomedov defeated Dos Anjos in dominant fashion via judges' decision in April last year, representing the Brazilian's only defeat in his last 11 fights. Since then, Dos Anjos has won five fights, becoming the champion, while Nurmagomedov has no longer fought due to injury. However, the Russian believes that Rafael cannot truly be called champion until he faces him again in the octagon.
“He wants people to say he’s the champion, but in reality, I’m the one dominating. He needs to beat me so that people say he is the real champion,” said Nurmagomedov, in an interview with the website “Ag. Fight.”
To assume a prominent position in the category, the Russian was willing to face Dos Anjos at an event in Brazil, specifically UFC 197, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro in March 2016. “In January, I start training harder. I want to be ready in March and, who knows, try for the title in Brazil, if Dos Anjos wants,” he added.
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