Rafael dos Anjos (32-17, 16) was born in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on October 26, 1984. At the age of 19 years on September 25, 2004, he made his professional MMA debut against Adriano Abu, losing the fight via 3-round split decision.
On November 15, 2008, 24-year old Rafael dos Anjos made his UFC debut on his 14th professional MMA fight at UFC 91 against a 22-year old Jeremy Stephens but lost the fight via KO in the 3rd round.
He became the UFC lightweight champion on March 14, 2015 at age 30 on his 31st professional MMA fight at UFC 185 after defeating a 28-year old Anthony Pettis via 5-round unanimous decision.
Anjos' last fight was a 1st-round TKO loss to Geoff Neal at UFC 308 at age 40 on October 26, 2024. He is on a 3-fight losing streak.
He has fought 34 times in the UFC, and has a record of 21 wins and 13 losses in the promotion.
Some of Rafael dos Anjos' best fights have been against Donald Cerrone, Anthony Pettis, Benson Henderson, George Sotiropoulos, Neil Magny, Kamal Shalorus and Bryan Barberena.
Anjos has 17 losses on his MMA record.
| # | Date | Opponent | Promotion | Weight | Round | Method | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
49  | Oct 26, 2024 40 years 32-17 (16) | 34 years, 1 months 15-6 (11) | UFC | LT | 1 | TKO | LOSS Knee injury |
48  | Mar 9, 2024 39 years, 4 months 32-16 (16) | 33 years, 2 months 23-2 (13) | UFC | LT | 3 | UD | LOSS |
47  | Aug 12, 2023 38 years, 9 months 32-15 (16) | 31 years, 8 months 21-9-1 (18) | UFC | WL | 5 | UD | LOSS |
46  | Dec 3, 2022 38 years, 1 months 32-14 (16) | 33 years, 7 months 18-8 (13) | UFC | WL | 2 | SUB | WIN Neck crank |
45  | Jul 9, 2022 37 years, 8 months 31-14 (15) | 29 years, 4 months 11-1 (8) | UFC | LT | 5 | KO | LOSS Punches |
44  | Mar 5, 2022 37 years, 4 months 31-13 (15) | 32 years, 9 months 16-4-1 (9) | UFC | LT | 5 | UD | WIN |
43  | Nov 14, 2020 36 years 30-13 (15) | 36 years, 6 months 17-5 (11) | UFC | LT | 5 | SD | WIN |
42  | Jan 25, 2020 35 years, 2 months 29-13 (15) | 32 years, 1 months 14-4 (9) | UFC | WL | 3 | UD | LOSS |
41  | Jul 20, 2019 34 years, 8 months 29-12 (15) | 27 years, 10 months 17-3 (9) | UFC | WL | 5 | UD | LOSS |
40  | May 18, 2019 34 years, 6 months 29-11 (15) | 26 years, 8 months 17-4 (8) | UFC | WL | 4 | SUB | WIN Arm-triangle choke |
39  | Nov 30, 2018 34 years, 1 months 28-11 (14) | 31 years, 6 months 13-1 (7) | TUF | WL | 5 | UD | LOSS |
38  | Jun 9, 2018 33 years, 7 months 28-10 (14) | 30 years, 3 months 13-1 (7) | UFC | WL | 5 | UD | LOSS For UFC welterweight title Interim |
37  | Dec 16, 2017 33 years, 1 months 28-9 (14) | 35 years, 8 months 28-11 (21) | UFC | WL | 5 | UD | WIN |
36  | Sep 9, 2017 32 years, 10 months 27-9 (14) | 30 years, 1 months 19-5 (9) | UFC | WL | 1 | SUB | WIN Arm-triangle choke |
35  | Jun 17, 2017 32 years, 7 months 26-9 (13) | 30 years, 9 months 16-6 (6) | UFC | WL | 3 | UD | WIN |
34  | Nov 5, 2016 32 years 25-9 (13) | 32 years, 8 months 21-3 (17) | TUF | LT | 5 | UD | LOSS |
33  | Jul 7, 2016 31 years, 8 months 25-8 (13) | 32 years, 5 months 27-4 (20) | UFC | LT | 1 | TKO | LOSS Punches Lost UFC lightweight title |
32  | Dec 19, 2015 31 years, 1 months 25-7 (13) | 32 years, 8 months 28-6 (20) | UFC | LT | 1 | TKO | WIN Punches Defended UFC lightweight title |
31  | Mar 14, 2015 30 years, 4 months 24-7 (12) | 28 years, 1 months 18-2 (15) | UFC | LT | 5 | UD | WIN Won UFC lightweight title |
30  | Dec 13, 2014 30 years, 1 months 23-7 (12) | 29 years, 7 months 17-9 (14) | UFC | 3 | UD | WIN | |
29  | Aug 23, 2014 29 years, 9 months 22-7 (12) | 30 years, 9 months 21-3 (11) | UFC | 1 | KO | WIN Punch | |
28  | Jun 7, 2014 29 years, 7 months 21-7 (11) | 32 years, 7 months 18-4 (10) | UFC | 2 | TKO | WIN Punches | |
27  | Apr 19, 2014 29 years, 5 months 20-7 (10) | 25 years, 6 months 21-0 (14) | UFC | 3 | UD | LOSS | |
26 | Aug 28, 2013 28 years, 10 months 20-6 (10) | 30 years, 4 months 20-5 (15) | UFC | 3 | UD | WIN | |
25  | May 18, 2013 28 years, 6 months 19-6 (10) | 31 years, 5 months 14-3 (9) | UFC | 3 | UD | WIN | |
24  | Nov 17, 2012 28 years 18-6 (10) | 31 years 11-4 (8) | UFC | 3 | UD | WIN | |
23  | Jul 11, 2012 27 years, 8 months 17-6 (10) | 32 years, 4 months 15-6 (8) | UFC | 3 | UD | WIN | |
22  | May 15, 2012 27 years, 6 months 16-6 (10) | 34 years, 8 months 7-2-2 (5) | UFC | 1 | SUB | WIN Rear-naked choke | |
21  | Nov 19, 2011 27 years 15-6 (9) | 28 years, 4 months 26-7 (16) | UFC | 3 | SD | LOSS | |
20  | Jul 2, 2011 26 years, 8 months 15-5 (9) | 33 years, 11 months 14-3 (9) | UFC | 1 | KO | WIN Punch | |
19  | Aug 7, 2010 25 years, 9 months 14-5 (8) | 28 years, 7 months 26-11 (17) | UFC | 3 | TKO | LOSS Jaw injury | |
18  | Apr 10, 2010 25 years, 5 months 14-4 (8) | 24 years, 2 months 14-2 (12) | UFC | 2 | SUB | WIN Armbar | |
17 | Jan 11, 2010 25 years, 2 months 13-4 (7) | Kyle Bradley | UFC | 3 | UD | WIN | |
16  | Sep 19, 2009 24 years, 10 months 12-4 (7) | 28 years, 1 months 9-7 (5) | UFC | 3 | UD | WIN | |
15  | Apr 1, 2009 24 years, 5 months 11-4 (7) | 24 years, 11 months 12-2 (8) | UFC | 3 | UD | LOSS | |
14  | Nov 15, 2008 24 years 11-3 (7) | 22 years, 5 months 15-3 (14) | UFC | 3 | KO | LOSS Punches | |
13  | Jul 12, 2008 23 years, 8 months 11-2 (7) | 21 years, 10 months 6-2-1 (5) | 3 | SD | WIN | ||
12 | Jun 1, 2008 23 years, 7 months 10-2 (7) | Takaichi Hirayama | Pancrase | 1 | SUB | WIN Armbar | |
11 | Dec 6, 2007 23 years, 1 months 9-2 (6) | Gabriel Veiga | 3 | UD | WIN | ||
10 | Aug 4, 2007 22 years, 9 months 8-2 (6) | Danilo Cherman | 2 | SUB | WIN Kimura | ||
9 | Apr 29, 2007 22 years, 6 months 7-2 (5) | Maurício Souza | 1 | SUB | WIN Rear-naked choke | ||
8 | Apr 29, 2007 22 years, 6 months 6-2 (4) | Thiago Minu | 1 | SUB | WIN Rear-naked choke | ||
7 | Apr 7, 2007 22 years, 5 months 5-2 (3) | Johil de Oliveira | 1 | SUB | WIN Rear-naked choke | ||
6 | Mar 24, 2007 22 years, 4 months 4-2 (2) | Mateus Trindade | 3 | UD | WIN | ||
5 | Oct 25, 2006 21 years, 11 months 3-2 (2) | Diogo Oliveira | 2 | SUB | WIN Armbar | ||
4 | Jun 4, 2005 20 years, 7 months 2-2 (1) | Jorge Britto | 3 | SD | LOSS | ||
3 | Apr 26, 2005 20 years, 6 months 2-1 (1) | Felipe Arinelli | 2 | TKO | WIN Doctor stoppage | ||
2 | Oct 9, 2004 19 years, 11 months 1-1 (0) | João Paulo Almeida | 3 | UD | WIN | ||
1 | Sep 25, 2004 19 years, 10 months 0-1 (0) | Adriano Abu | 3 | SD | LOSS |
