Rafael dos Anjos has set himself up for a fall at UFC 196 by claiming his match-up with Conor McGregor is “just another fight”.
Hopefully ‘another fight’ lasts longer than 13 seconds anyway.
The Brazilian, who goes into the lightweight title bout with a 25-7 career record, has claimed the likes of Donald Cerrone and Benson Henderson would provide him with a tougher challenge than the Dubliner.
The lightweight champion has already fanned the flames by suggesting the Irish were ashamed of Conor McGregor. Now, he’s questioning more than The Notorious’ media personality.
“I want to thank Dana White and Lorenzo [Fertitta] for finally giving me an easy fight,” dos Anjos told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour.
“I always have tough fights against beasts. And finally, I have an easy fight,” he added.
Despite beating Cerrone at UFC on Fox 17 in December and seeing off the challenge of Henderson back in 2014, dos Anjos maintains the pair both offer more than McGregor.
“Man, Ben Henderson, Donald Cerrone…these guys are a different level man. They are stronger, they are faster, they are taller than this guy,” dos Anjos said.
“I’ve faced better guys before, stronger guys. And I think this is just going to be one more fight.”
Dos Anjos certainly looks sharp in training, backing up his own claims that he is “focused” and “very in shape”, but McGregor has also upped his game as he prepares to add a lightweight belt to his featherweight crown.
