Rafael dos Anjos
UFC 2008–present · rated in 5 editions · peak overall 90.0
Scouting report
The defining lightweight performance came in March 2015 — a five-round decision over Anthony Pettis at UFC 185 that made Rafael dos Anjos the undisputed lightweight champion. Born in Niteroi, Brazil, and representing Nova Uniao and Kings MMA, "RDA" built the case in 2014 with a knockout of Benson Henderson and a decision win over Nate Diaz before the Pettis fight, then defended the belt with a 66-second finish of Donald Cerrone that July. Across five lightweight editions (EA 1 through UFC 5), dos Anjos held a consistent 85 Overall. The 90 Cardio is his defining attribute: his pressure starts in round one and holds through five.
Peak ratings
By edition
After dropping the lightweight belt to Eddie Alvarez in July 2016 and losing a five-round battle to Tony Ferguson in Mexico City, Dos Anjos moved up to welterweight in 2017, defeating Tarec Saffiedine, submitting Neil Magny with an arm-triangle in 3:43, and dominating Robbie Lawler over five rounds in Winnipeg. His pace, pressure boxing, and wrestling control justify his 88 Boxing and 94 Cardio.
After dropping the lightweight belt to Eddie Alvarez in July 2016 and losing a five-round battle to Tony Ferguson in Mexico City, Dos Anjos moved up to welterweight in 2017, defeating Tarec Saffiedine, submitting Neil Magny with an arm-triangle in 3:43, and dominating Robbie Lawler over five rounds in Winnipeg. His pace, pressure boxing, and wrestling control justify his 88 Boxing and 92 Cardio.
Returning to lightweight in November 2020 at UFC Fight Night 182 in Las Vegas, Dos Anjos put on a five-round striking clinic to defeat Paul Felder by split decision, followed by an extended recovery layoff. His frame, positional wrestling, and composed striking pressure anchor his 86 Boxing and 84 Wrestling ratings.
Dos Anjos remained active across lightweight and welterweight between 2022 and 2024, submitting Bryan Barberena with a neck crank in Orlando and competing against Rafael Fiziev, Vicente Luque, and Mateusz Gamrot. His fight intelligence, clinch wrestling, and standup defense maintain his 84 Boxing and 88 Fight IQ ratings.
Draft Rafael dos Anjos into your build
Rafael dos Anjos enters the pool on any spin landing on lightweight between 2014 and present. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are our own, built from independent research and from how Rafael dos Anjos is regarded by the MMA community, with the EA Sports UFC games used only as a starting baseline for the scale. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Rafael dos Anjos's real-world abilities. See the disclaimer below.