Forgotten ex-UFC champion returns to action after two-year absence

A former UFC lightweight champion will return to the promotion to face Alexander Hernandez at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City in October.

Rafael dos Anjos has not competed for two years. The 41-year-old has been sidelined by injury since suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at UFC 308, where he registered a defeat against Geoff Neal in Abu Dhabi.

The Brazilian fighter lost by unanimous decision on each of his previous two appearances but brings good pedigree to his forthcoming return to action.

He also tore his meniscus against Neal and had surgery to repair the damage in November 2024.

Further complications saw Dos Anjos require two more surgeries on his injured knee, meaning a total of three operations in the space of 14 months.

'I want to win...' - Dos Anjos issues statement on UFC return

He said in a statement that he believes he has a couple of fights left and is working for his legacy. His bout with Hernandez will be his 50th in professional mixed martial arts.

"At this stage of my career, a win means more than a paycheck. I don’t want to step into the Octagon just to collect a check, I want to win," said the Brazilian veteran.

Dos Anjos has bounced between the lightweight and welterweight divisions over the last decade having enjoyed his greatest success at the lighter weight class in 2015.

He defeated American fighter Anthony Pettis by unanimous decision to win the lightweight belt, successfully defending it with a blistering win against Donald Cerrone in Orlando nine months later.

In his first fight of 2016, Dos Anjos lost the title against Eddie Alvarez.

Two years earlier, he took on Khabib Nurmagomedov in a losing effort.

"The 2015 lightweight champion, Rafael dos Anjos, built one of the most important careers in Brazilian MMA within the UFC," reports ESPN.

"Throughout his career, the veteran faced some of the top names from different generations and competed in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions."

33-year-old Hernandez has a similar win/loss ratio to Dos Anjos and will also head into the fight on the back of a loss, albeit a much more recent one after winning on his four previous outings.

The American was unbeaten for two years before a unanimous decision loss against Rafa Garcia in Las Vegas in April.

Dos Anjos and Hernandez will clash in the welterweight division.

"Alexander Hernandez comes into the fight after suffering a defeat in his last UFC appearance," reports ESPN.

"The American was defeated by Mexican Rafa Garcia by unanimous decision and will now have the opportunity to get back on the winning track against one of the most experienced athletes in the organization's history."

UFC 332 is scheduled for October 3rd at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

The event will be co-headlined by a women's flyweight title fight between Valentina Shevchenko and challenger Natalia Silva. The other main event is yet to be announced.

Also on the undercard will be a middleweight scrap between Marvin Vettori and Ismail Naurdiev, and Deiveson Figueiredo vs Payton Talbott in the bantamweight division.

Jiri Prochazka and Paulo Costa are set to meet for the interim light heavyweight belt during the UFC's fifth major event in the Utah state capital.