Rafael dos Anjos is back.
It’s been two years since we last saw the former UFC Lightweight champion in action, an unfortunate consequence of the knee injury suffered in his last outing versus Geoff Neal. After multiple setbacks and surgeries, however, “RDA” is officially set to return versus Alexander Hernandez at UFC 332, which is scheduled for Sat., Oct. 3, 2026, at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
That’s according to a first report from ESPN.
There are several interesting dynamics at play regarding this matchup. For one, Hernandez is moving up to Welterweight for the first time. While dos Anjos has bounced around between 155 and 170 pounds in recent years, Hernandez was competing at Featherweight as recently as April 2024. In addition, there’s an intriguing clash of styles. Hernandez has revitalized his career operating as a counter striker, whereas dos Anjos is one of the sport’s great pressure fighters.
Finally, there’s the elephant in the room: dos Anjos is 41 years old and has lost three straight. He was still performing at a high-level during that skid, but one has to wonder how much “RDA” has left in the tank after two more years away and multiple surgeries. Hernandez, conversely, is eight years younger and has won four of his last five bouts, competing consistently while dos Anjos has been recovering.
Anyone backing the former champ to return to the win column?
