This Saturday live at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, two top lightweights meet to provide an update on this loaded 155 lbs division as number 7th ranked former UFC lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos takes on rising lightweight contender, number 10th ranked Rafael Fiziev.
UFC Vegas 58 Main Event Preview
Dos Anjos (31-13) is currently on a two-fight win streak after returning back to the division he won gold in, back in 2015. With a victory over a game opponent like Fiziev, Dos Anjos will prove he can still hang with the top of the division and even gain consideration for a title shot.
Dos Anjos won the lightweight title in 2015 against Anthony Pettis and went on to have a successful title defense over recently retired Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone before dropping it to Eddie Alvarez. Dos Anjos throughout his career in both lightweight and welterweight has notable wins against the likes of Nate Diaz, Robbie Lawler, Kevin Lee, and Benson Henderson to name a few.
Should the Brazilian however lose, it could derail his momentum that now at the age of 37, can be very hard to regain and be looked at as a gatekeeper in such a talent-spread division going forward.
Fiziev (11-1) is known for his lethal offensive prowess in Muay Thai, combat sambo, boxing and grappling. The 29-year-old Kyrgyzstani native is currently on a five-fight win streak that includes Brad Ridell, Bobby Green and Renato Moicano, who most recently fought Dos Anjos in a one-sided unanimous decision affair.
Despite losing in his debut fight in April 2019, Fiziev has really put it together as he earned performance bonuses in four of his five straight wins with his most recent highlight being a sizzling knockout over Brad Ridell with a spinning wheel kick in December.
This fight Saturday will prove who has more to offer in the top five bracket of the division, as the seasoned former champion locks horns with the young hungry lion.
