Rafael dos Anjos set to make 50th career appearance at UFC 332

Rafael dos Anjos is set to reach a major milestone at UFC 332. On Saturday, the former UFC Lightweight Champion will make the 50th professional appearance of his career when he faces Alexander Hernandez in Salt Lake City. Nearly 18 years after making his UFC debut, the 41-year-old Brazilian remains active after competing against some of the biggest names in MMA.

Rafael dos Anjos Climbed From Early Struggles to the UFC Title

Dos Anjos made his UFC debut in November 2008, but his path to the top of the promotion was far from straightforward. After losing his first two UFC appearances, the Brazilian gradually established himself as one of the lightweight division's leading contenders.

Following the ups and downs of his initial UFC years, Dos Anjos found his form, going on a five-fight winning streak. In April 2014, the Brazilian arrived with plenty of momentum to face Khabib Nurmagomedov, but ultimately suffered a unanimous decision defeat, his first loss in more than two years.

Despite that setback, Dos Anjos was able to bounce back in his next appearance, going on a three-fight winning streak, knocking out former champion Benson Henderson and defeating Nate Diaz on the judges' scorecards. The sequence earned the Brazilian his first title shot, and he made the most of it. With a dominant performance, Dos Anjos won a unanimous decision against Anthony Pettis to claim the UFC lightweight title.

Rafael dos Anjos Continued Fighting Elite Competition After UFC Title Run

Dos Anjos returned to defend his belt for the first time against Donald Cerrone, stopping the American by TKO. However, the Brazilian was defeated by Eddie Alvarez in his next title defense, losing the belt and suffering his first loss since Nurmagomedov. Dos Anjos tried to bounce back four months later, delivering a bloody war against Tony Ferguson but ultimately losing by unanimous decision.

The two-fight losing streak prompted the Brazilian to move up to welterweight, where he got off to a good start. In 2017, Dos Anjos won all three of his appearances, defeating Tarec Saffiedine, Neil Magny and Robbie Lawler in his first three fights at the new division. The three-fight winning streak led the former lightweight champion to challenge Colby Covington for the UFC interim welterweight title, but he lost by unanimous decision.

Dos Anjos then faced another future champion in Kamaru Usman in 2018. The Brazilian suffered another unanimous decision defeat, but continued to compete against elite opposition as he entered the next stage of his career.

Rafael dos Anjos Career Stretches Across Several Generations

By this stage of his career, Dos Anjos had already become a former UFC lightweight champion and had challenged for the interim welterweight title. With more than a decade of competing in the UFC, the Brazilian was no longer putting together the long winning streaks that had taken him to the top, but he continued to face high-level opposition as a new generation of fighters emerged.

Dos Anjos' career has stretched across multiple generations of fighters. Early in his UFC run, the Brazilian faced veterans such as Clay Guida and Gleison Tibau. More recently, he shared the Octagon with Rafael Fiziev and Mateusz Gamrot, who joined the UFC in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Perhaps the clearest example of Dos Anjos' longevity is his fight against Nurmagomedov in 2014. The Brazilian faced the future undefeated UFC champion more than a decade ago, and while Nurmagomedov retired in 2020, Dos Anjos remains active in the promotion.

Dos Anjos built his career around an aggressive and well-rounded style. A black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a Muay Thai practitioner, the Brazilian was capable of finishing fights both on the feet and on the ground, while also developing a strong wrestling game. His versatility allowed him to compete with elite fighters across different stages of his career.

Rafael dos Anjos Reaches 50-Fight Milestone at 41

At 41 years old and after more than 22 years as a professional fighter, Dos Anjos is now set to reach another milestone. His fight against Hernandez will be his 50th professional appearance and his 37th inside the Octagon. The Brazilian is returning after nearly two years away from competition and will look to snap a three-fight losing streak.

Dos Anjos has faced numerous top contenders and former champions throughout his career. He is second in UFC history for total fight time and enters the matchup with a 32-17 professional record, with 16 of his 32 victories coming by stoppage.

Nearly 18 years after making his UFC debut, Dos Anjos is set to return to the Octagon. The former champion will face Hernandez at UFC 332 on Saturday in Salt Lake City, making his 50th professional appearance just weeks before turning 42.