Former Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos made his decision to return to welterweight permanently known to Sheldog last month and requested that his name be removed from the lightweight rankings.
“It’s my decision, unless there’s an interesting proposal or a convincing fight between the lightweights,” dos Anjos said at the time.
But this week, the Brazilian seemed to find an intriguing story to embrace as he returned to the weight class where he won a gold medal in 2015. After watching Michael Chandler challenge Islam Makhachev for the 155-pound belt, the Brazilian took to social media to deliver a stern message to the American.
“How much is a chance to become a world champion worth? For some of us, the UFC belt is priceless. My belt is definitely not for sale,” dos Anjos wrote to X. “Chandler needs to stop giving those ‘see you at the top’ pep talks. Embarrassing…”
It didn’t take Chandler long to respond sarcastically to the former champion.
“Cool story…see you at the top!!!” the former Bellator champion wrote.
To which the Brazilian replied: “I’m already here, my friend. We just haven’t met yet.”
How much is a chance to be a world champion worth? For some of us, the UFC belt is priceless. My belt is definitely not for sale. Chandler needs to stop giving “see you at the top” pep talks. It’s embarrassing…
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA)
July 2, 2024
I’ve been here before but I haven’t met you yet.
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA)
July 2, 2024
Sheldog was able to speak with dos Anjos about his exchange with Chandler, with the Brazilian reiterating his challenge to the former Bellator champion.
“He’s losing credibility with fans who are waiting for a money fight that may never happen,” dos Anjos said. “I’m sure the fans right now would rather see me fight Conor than him. I’ve fought 34 times at UFC over the last 16 years, against the best in two weight classes and was the first Brazilian to win a lightweight belt. Chandler fought five times at UFC in two years, losing three of them. This speech [see you
at the top] It doesn’t make any sense to me.”
