Dos Anjos ignores Usman and calls for title fight against Tyron Woodley

Dos Anjos wants to challenge champion Woodley (Photo: Reproduction/Twitter UFCBrasil)

O challenge made by Kamaru Usman a Rafael dos Anjos it had no effect. With two wins in two fights in the welterweight category, the Brazilian ignored the request for a fight from the Nigerian, currently 10th in the rankings, five positions below the former lightweight champion. Although he highlights the 'hectic' moment of the division, Dos Anjos states that, for him, there are no advantages in facing an opponent who is not ahead of him.

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“I just beat number six in the division (Neil Magny) and I'm currently number five. It makes no sense to fight with the number 10 (Kamaru Usman). I understand that everyone is trying to promote themselves, but I'm really worried about the athletes in front of me. I'm the former champion, I've been in the UFC for almost 10 years and this kid only arrived a few days ago. Relax, man, worry about your business and don't jump the queue”, declared Rafael, in an interview with the 'MMA Fighting' website.

If Usman is not part of Dos Anjos' plans, there is another fighter who is a priority: Tyron woodley. Taking advantage of the fact that the champion still doesn't have an opponent chosen to return to the octagon, the Brazilian minimized the competitors' chances and guarantees that he deserved to be the next challenger at 77kg.

“I'm ready to fight the champion and I don't see any other guy in the division who can beat him. Everyone ahead of me in the rankings has already lost to the champion or the last challenger, the Demian Maia, so, as I am a former champion and I am undefeated as a welterweight, I think the next chance is mine”, said Dos Anjos, who concluded by stating that he has the ideal game to dethrone the current holder of the welterweight belt.

“He was just worried about the standup against Wonderboy (Stephen Thompson) and I was just worried about not going down against Demian, but he will be confused with me. I will take him out of his comfort zone and he will have to work twice as hard,” he concluded.