MMAOB staff writer Adam Martin takes a deeper look at the co-main event of UFC 272, a five-round non-title catchweight (160lbs) bout between champion Rafael dos Anjos and Renato Moicano. The event takes place on Saturday, March 5 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Rafael dos Anjos (-170)
Dos Anjos (30-13) is the No. 6 ranked lightweight in the UFC. The 37-year-old Brazilian has been in the UFC since 2008, going 19-11 in the Octagon since then. Dos Anjos is a former UFC lightweight champion and he has some incredible wins on his resume, including victories over the likes of Anthony Pettis, Benson Henderson, Kevin Lee, Paul Felder, Robbie Lawler, Nate Diaz, and Donald Cerrone. Of course, he also has quite a few losses in the UFC, though most of his losses have come against elite fighters. Overall, dos Anjos has performed very well in the UFC over the years. He has won a championship and even at age 37 he is one of the top-ranked lightweights in the sport. The problem is, he hasn’t fought in two years, and he is now going to fight one of the top up-and-comers in the division in Moicano. It should be a very interesting fight for as long as it lasts.
Renato Moicano (+145)
Moicano (16-4-1) is one of the top lightweights in the UFC not ranked in the top-15. The 32-year-old Brazilian is 8-4 overall in the UFC with wins over the likes of Alexander Hernandez, Cub Swanson, Calvin Kattar, Jeremy Stephens, and Jai Herbert. Moicano is slick on the ground as he’s won nine fights in his career by submission. His striking is also improving but the fact is he has never knocked anyone out so you can’t call it a strength. Still, even lacking KO power, Moicano has shown throughout the years that he is an excellent lightweight and this should be a very competitive fight.
Fight Breakdown: I feel like dos Anjos has gotten a pretty favorable matchup as a replacement after Rafael Fiziev fell out due to COVID-19. Against Fiziev, dos Anjos would have been in a tough spot against a better striker who has elite takedown defense. It was a fight that dos Anjos could have won, but it would have been a big uphill climb. Moicano, meanwhile, seems like an easier fight as he’s someone who is talented but who has also lost a lot of fights inside the Octagon, as well. The fact that Moicano is taking this on short notice is also a knock against him, even if he did just fight a few weeks ago. Overall, this is a very interesting fight, but I think you have to favor dos Anjos. He has plenty of experience fighting in five-round fights and I really think that could be the difference in this matchup. Dos Anjos needs to be careful not to get taken down in this fight, but as long as it stays on the feet, I do give him a slight advantage. I’m expecting a close fight here between these two stud lightweights, but I think dos Anjos will ultimately win a decision at the end of 25 minutes.
Prediction: Rafael dos Anjos
