Cordeiro (left) celebrates Dos Anjos' UFC victory. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Head coach of Rafael dos Anjos, UFC lightweight champion, Rafael Cordeiro has already given his first impressions about his pupil's possible next fight. According to the leader of the Kings MMA gym, the Brazilian aims to “break the soul” of Conor McGregor in the main fight of UFC 197, on March 5, in Las Vegas (USA).
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The duel between the lightweight and featherweight champions has not been officially confirmed by the UFC, but several media outlets have already stated that the fight is in Ultimate's plans. “We haven't received official confirmation from the UFC yet, but it's something we're waiting for. From our side, it is already signed. It is important to make it clear that this was McGregor's request. Rafael is happy to welcome him in a brutal way to the lightweight division”, said Cordeiro, in an interview with the North American website “Sherdog”.
Cordeiro is confident that his pupil has all the mental and technical conditions to make a “brutal reception” to the Irishman in the under-70 kg category. “He [McGregor] is a fighter we believe we can beat. He's coming from the lower category, and he can be sure that he will face a strong champion, who won't change his style. McGregor has already proven himself to be a great athlete, but we have five rounds to beat him and Rafael is hungry for it – to beat him not just physically, but spiritually. We want to break his soul in the Octagon. I bet Rafael will finish him in a brutal way, just like what happened in his last fights”, predicted the coach.
Dos Anjos won the lightweight belt in March last year, defeating the then champion, Anthony Pettis. Months later, in December, he made his first title defense, quickly knocking out Donald Cerrone.
McGregor, in turn, became the undisputed featherweight champion (up to 66 kg) on December 12, when he beat José Aldo in just 13 seconds. The likely UFC 197 duel will be the first fight between current champions since the UFC 94 duel in early 2009, when B.J. Penn, holder of the lightweight title, moved up a category and lost to Georges St Pierre, then welterweight king.
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