Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is making a move to the 170lb division and isn’t shy about who he’s asking for in his divisional debut. Speaking to MMAjunkie, RDA says he’d like the chance to face either Nick Diaz or former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler in his welterweight debut.
“I think Robbie Lawler is a good name and a fight that interests me,” said dos Anjos. “Nick Diaz. I think I can beat these guys for sure. Those are some of the names on my mind right now.”
Regardless of whether he actually gets Diaz or Lawler, dos Anjos only wants to fight the best guys in the welterweight division. He also makes it very clear that while he knows 170lbs is a new division for him, he wants to be the best welterweight in the UFC.
“Welterweight is a different division, but I’m not fighting light at welterweight,” dos Anjos said. “Everything I want to do in my life, I want to be at the top. Now I’m at welterweight, and I want to fight the best guys.”
The former champ would also love for this fight to be in his home country of Brazil and wouldn’t mind jumping on the upcoming card with Jose Aldo and Max Holloway at UFC 212.
“I want to fight in Brazil,” he said. “I just heard about the show with Holloway and Aldo. My last fight in Rio was in 2007, and I would love to have a chance to fight in my hometown again.”
Whoever the opponent ends up being, RDA believes he’s done enough to ask for a big fight in his welterweight debut.
“I think I deserve it because of my history, because of what I did for the sport,”
