Rafael Dos Anjos: Never Turned Down a Fight

Rafael dos Anjos (RDA) is a veteran Brazilian mixed martial artist and a former UFC Lightweight Champion known for his well-rounded skill set, durability, and relentless pressure fighting style. Born in Rio de Janeiro, dos Anjos earned a third-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt before transitioning into MMA, where he seamlessly combined high-level grappling with explosive Muay Thai striking. Peak RDA was characterized by relentless forward movement, brutal leg kicks, dangerous cage clinch work, and smooth takedowns. His career defining moment came at UFC 185 in March 2015, where he delivered a dominant 25-minute performance against Anthony Pettis to capture the UFC Lightweight Championship. Throughout his career, dos Anjos established himself as one of the ultimate "anyone, anywhere, anytime" fighters in UFC history, competing against elite contenders across both the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions. Following his title reign at 155 pounds—which included a sub-minute defense against Donald Cerrone—RDA moved up to 170 pounds, where he defeated former champion Robbie Lawler and battled for the interim welterweight belt. Over more than 30 Octagon appearances, he faced a hall-of-fame row of opposition, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, Tony Ferguson, and Benson Henderson. Celebrated for his work ethic and willingness to take on the toughest challenges in the sport, RDA remains widely respected as a former champion and modern legend of the sport.