Islam Makhachev VS Rafael Dos Anjos Set For UFC 267

David Larsen @admin

Posted: August 10, 2021
Last updated: August 10, 2021

UFC has booked Islam Makhachev vs Rafael Dos Anjos fight for UFC 267. They both were booked to fight at UFC 254 but dos Anjos tested positive for COVID-19. The fight was rebooked in November in Las Vegas, but Makhachev withdrew because of illness. The duo will battle for the top spot in the lightweight division which is at the moment stacked with some of the best fighters on the planet.

The UFC 267 event will also feature A UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between current champion Jan Błachowicz and former title challenger Glover Teixeira.

Also, the co-main event will feature the UFC Bantamweight Championship rematch between current champion Aljamain Sterling and the former champion Petr Yan is expected to take place at this event. The duo previously met earlier this year at UFC 259 with Sterling winning the fight (and title) by disqualification (intentional illegal knee strike) in the fourth round, becoming the first fighter to win a UFC title by disqualification. The event is expected to take place on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and air on an ESPN network, possibly ABC.

Makhachev vs Dos Anjos – Lightweight Contenders

Dos Anjos and Makhachev have gone back and forth on social media in recent times and have shown interest to fight several times. Now finally there wish will get true and the fight doesn’t fall apart like the last time at UFC 254.
After the fight was announced both the fighters again fired some shots at their opponent regarding the fight. Dos Anjos told ESPN that he wanted the fight to be five rounds but that couldn’t be possible for UFC.

“Islam doesn’t want to fight five rounds,” dos Anjos told ESPN. “That was my request, but it didn’t work out. So, fine. Let’s do three then. He’s been talking a lot of crap — let’s see who is who now. I’m ready to go. This is a title eliminator [in] my eyes.”

Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, told ESPN that Islam never had a preference between three or five rounds.

“The UFC offered a three-round fight and Islam said yes,” Abdelaziz said. “We don’t care about the number of rounds — it’s no problem. The UFC asked for this, and this is what the UFC got. I’m looking at this as a No. 1 contender’s match. The winner should fight for the title.”

The fight will be an important matchup in the lightweight division considering the talent the division has got. The winner of the fight between Islam Makhachev and Rafael Dos Anjos will definitely be the next top guy in the division. UFC is also trying to book the lightweight championship fight between the champ Charles Oliveira and no.1 contender Dustin Poirier.

UFC 267 lineup includes: