Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Rafael dos Anjos
Three of RotoWire's best MMA handicappers join forces to give you a 10-pack of plays for UFC 258 on Saturday, along with a detailed breakdown of the research behind them.
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The high-volume striking and wrestling of Kamaru Usman typically makes for a great DFS score, regardless of format. Chris Olson picks out the best plays for UFC 258 on a variety of sites.
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Now facing Paul Felder
Dos Anjos will now face Paul Felder in a lightweight matchup to headline UFC Vegas 14 on Saturday, Brett Okamoto of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Felder steps in on just five days' notice for a five-round fight, replacing Islam Makhachev, who withdrew Sunday due to a staph infection. The veteran won't be an easy opponent for dos Anjos, who's looking to return to the win column in his return to the lightweight division after losing four of his last five fights as a welterweight.
Felder steps in on just five days' notice for a five-round fight, replacing Islam Makhachev, who withdrew Sunday due to a staph infection. The veteran won't be an easy opponent for dos Anjos, who's looking to return to the win column in his return to the lightweight division after losing four of his last five fights as a welterweight.
Needs new opponent
Dos Anjos is in need of a new opponent for UFC Fight Night on Nov. 14 after Islam Makhachev (undisclosed) withdrew from the matchup, Brett Okamoto of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Dos Anjos and Makhachev were initially scheduled to face off in late October, but the fight was pushed back after dos Anjos tested positive for COVID-19. Makhachev was forced to withdraw from the Nov. 14 matchup for an undisclosed reason, although the promotion is searching for a new opponent for dos Anjos with just under a week remaining before the event.
Dos Anjos and Makhachev were initially scheduled to face off in late October, but the fight was pushed back after dos Anjos tested positive for COVID-19. Makhachev was forced to withdraw from the Nov. 14 matchup for an undisclosed reason, although the promotion is searching for a new opponent for dos Anjos with just under a week remaining before the event.
Makhachev bout rescheduled
Dos Anjos's lightweight bout against Islam Makhachev has been rescheduled to Nov. 14 in Las Vegas, MMA DNA reports.
ANALYSIS
Dos Anjos had to back out of the original date of Oct. 24 due to a positive COVID-19 test. The UFC moved it back three weeks and this bout should be all set, though it's not known at this point if it will be the headliner. This is the final fight of Dos Anjos' current contract.
Dos Anjos had to back out of the original date of Oct. 24 due to a positive COVID-19 test. The UFC moved it back three weeks and this bout should be all set, though it's not known at this point if it will be the headliner. This is the final fight of Dos Anjos' current contract.
Tests positive for COVID-19
Dos Anjos tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and was scratched from his scheduled fight at UFC 254, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Dos Anjos was slated to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 254 on Oct. 24, the final fight on his current UFC contract. However, the former UFC lightweight champion announced that he won't fight due to his diagnosis. It's unclear when he'll return to the Octagon. Whether the promotion finds a new opponent for Makhachev remains to be seen.
Dos Anjos was slated to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 254 on Oct. 24, the final fight on his current UFC contract. However, the former UFC lightweight champion announced that he won't fight due to his diagnosis. It's unclear when he'll return to the Octagon. Whether the promotion finds a new opponent for Makhachev remains to be seen.
Returning to lightweight
Dos Anjos will drop back down to lightweight to face Islam Makhachev at the UFC event scheduled for October 24, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Dos Anjos will be returning to lightweight for the first time since 2016 when he fought Tony Ferguson. While he won his first three fights at 170 pounds, the size dos Anjos was giving up eventually proved to be too much, as he lost four of his next five. The size comparison will be much closer against Makhachev, but it's far from an easy fight in RDA's lightweight return. Makhachev has put together a six-fight winning streak and is an incredibly sound grappler, sporting a 93 percent takedown defense and averaging more than a takedown per round in his UFC career. The takedown defense of dos Anjos has fallen steadily since his move to 170 pounds -- due largely to getting taken down 12 times by now-champion Kamaru Usman -- but it should hold up a bit better here at the lower weight class. Dos Anjos will be one of the better grapplers Makhachev has faced to date, and should still hold the advantage any time the fight is standing up.
Dos Anjos will be returning to lightweight for the first time since 2016 when he fought Tony Ferguson. While he won his first three fights at 170 pounds, the size dos Anjos was giving up eventually proved to be too much, as he lost four of his next five. The size comparison will be much closer against Makhachev, but it's far from an easy fight in RDA's lightweight return. Makhachev has put together a six-fight winning streak and is an incredibly sound grappler, sporting a 93 percent takedown defense and averaging more than a takedown per round in his UFC career. The takedown defense of dos Anjos has fallen steadily since his move to 170 pounds -- due largely to getting taken down 12 times by now-champion Kamaru Usman -- but it should hold up a bit better here at the lower weight class. Dos Anjos will be one of the better grapplers Makhachev has faced to date, and should still hold the advantage any time the fight is standing up.