Rafael dos Anjos and Rafael Fiziev is a bout that was booked and fell through on two separate occasions earlier this year. Now, it has been rebooked to take place on a UFC Fight Night card in July.
On Wednesday night, ESPN MMA insider Brett Okamoto reported that a matchup between the seventh and eighth-ranked fighters on the Sportsnaut UFC lightweight rankings is close to being finalized by the UFC.
The July 9 card does not have an official location or venue, but the event will reportedly feature the return of Octagon veterans Said Nurmagomedov, Antonina Schevchenko, Cynthia Calvillo and Nina Nunes.
- Rafael dos Anjos record: 31-13 (5 knockouts, 10 submissions)
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Rafael Fiziev record: 11- (7 knockouts, 1 submission)
Fiziev vs. dos Anjos was originally set to headline a UFC Fight Night card in February until visa issues forced “Atman” out of the date, and the matchup was rescheduled to take place a month later at UFC 272. However, that too was scrapped after Fiziev again could not make the fight. This time due to testing positive for COVID-19.
The Brazilian MMA great remained on the card and instead fought Renato Moicano in a five-round, non-title bout. The former lightweight champion was victorious and earned a second straight win back in the division after ending an eight-fight stint at welterweight. Dos Anjos went 4-4 competing at 170 pounds.
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