Rafael Dos Anjos believes he can fare well against current welterweight champion Tyron Woodley.
The last time Tyron Woodley finished a fight was when he won the belt against Robbie Lawler at UFC 201 in July2016. His succeeding fights all went to distance, and were all heavily criticized for being uneventful, pointing to Woodley’s hesitance to engage and take risks.
Woodley’s next title defense has yet to be determined, but as early as now, Rafael dos Anjos is already positioning himself for the fight. In a recent MMA Junkie interview, the former UFC lightweight champion is actually liking his chances.
“He has that game of circling around, of not wanting to take risks. With me, he’s going to be at risk,” dos Anjos said. “I won’t let him feel comfortable. I think in his past two fights, he wasn’t in jeopardy. Stephen Thompson fought very technically and strategically. Not that I won’t use strategy and technique, but I have this (stronger) pace.”
“I’ll push the pace and he’ll have to go to work. I won’t let him circle around – he’ll take me down, I’ll take him down, the fight will be a scramble. I’ll push his pace. And I think that’s when I’ll get the better of him.”
“I think after my fight with him, people might even buy his pay-per-view.”
Dos Anjos decided to move up to 170 pounds in January, after admitting that the weight cuts down to 155-pounds were already taking a toll on his body. He already holds a win at his new weight class when he faced Tarec Saffiedine in June in Singapore, and is now slated to fight Neil Magny at UFC 215.
Especially if he emerges victorious, dos Anjos feels he should be put on the fast track to the title.
“Now, as an ex-champ, I think the path is shorter,” dos Anjos said. “Demian (Maia) just had his shot at the belt and couldn’t get it. Tyron Woodley defended it. (Donald) Cerrone’s fight with Robbie Lawler – I thought Cerrone won, but it was tough. In my opinion, Lawler wasn’t convincing, so I think that fight removed him from a possible title rematch. (Jorge) Masvidal lost to Demian.
“Stephen Thompson will probably fight Masvidal and had two title fights already. I’m behind in the rankings, but the path is kind of open. I think with a win over (Neil) Magny, considering I’m an ex-champ, I think I’m pretty close. I’m not too far.”
UFC 215 takes place on September 9th in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.