"This is It? Not Yet": Rafael dos Anjos Details Brutal Three-Surgery Ordeal Since Last UFC Fight
Former champ Rafael Dos Anjos has opened up about his long absence from the octagon, claiming he has undergone 3 surgeries since his last fight.
Former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is as legitimate as it gets. The Brazilian veteran has shared the Octagon with absolute killers across two weight classes, taking on every tough assignment the company tossed his way. But his toughest opponent over the past two years wasn't a top-five contender; it was a nightmare string of medical mishaps.
Following a quick 90-second stoppage loss to Geoff Neal in October 2024, dos Anjos suffered a serious knee injury that pulled him out of action. What should have been a standard rehabilitation quickly spiraled into a nightmare medical ordeal involving three consecutive surgeries.
The trouble started right out of the gate in Brazil. His first surgeon attempted to stitch up his torn meniscus rather than trim it, a decision that backfired completely. Just four or five months into his recovery, the meniscus tore again, forcing him back under the knife to have the damaged tissue removed.
Unfortunately, his second procedure in Austin, Texas, brought fresh complications. The surgeon accidentally left surgical stitches inside his knee joint. The forgotten material triggered severe inflammation, restricting his movement and preventing him from fully extending his leg. That mistake forced a third surgery earlier this year just to clean out the mess.
"This Is It? Not Yet": The Fire Still Burns
Dealing with back-to-back surgical errors and constant setbacks would break most fighters. At 41 years old and riding a three-fight skid, dos Anjos admitted that retirement crossed his mind during the dark moments.
"For a second, I thought, 'Man, this is it,'" dos Anjos admitted. "But I don't know, something inside of me always tells me keep on going. I don't feel like this is it yet."
The former champion holds a 32-17 professional record and insists that despite his recent slide, he hasn't been completely dominated inside the cage. Holding four fights left on his UFC contract, dos Anjos feels ready to prove he still has gas in the tank.
Now fully healed, dos Anjos is set to make his return against Alexander Hernandez at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City. It has been a long, painful road back to full health, but the former king isn't ready to walk away just yet.
