Rafael dos Anjos Welcomes Kevin Lee To Welterweight At UFC Fight Night Rochester:
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| Expect a much more revitalized Kevin Lee at Welterweight. |
UFC Fight Night Rochester has it's main event. Former Lightweight world champion Rafael dos Anjos will act as the welcoming party for one time challenger Kevin Lee, who moves to Welterweight after some grueling attempts to make the 155lbs limit. dos Anjos made the leap up a division back in 2017 and has had mixed fortunes since the move, while Lee is looking to bounce back from a decision defeat to Al Iaquinta, and believes the Welterweight limit of 170lbs will drastically improve his conditioning come fight night.
A one time Lightweight kingpin, Brazil native Rafael dos Anjos implements an aggressive, pace-pushing offense with clean boxing and good utilization of leg kicks, and also holds a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt which was called upon against Neil Magny recently. Plying his trade at Evolve MMA alongside the likes of Ben Askren, Angela Lee, Roger Gracie and Shinya Aoki, similarly to Lee, the massive cut to 155lbs has taken a toll on his performances in the past, dropping losses to both Eddie Alvarez and Tony Ferguson before his Welterweight birth. The possible introduction of a 165lbs division in the coming year would benefit RDA hugely in my opinion as he finds himself much more comfortable at the heavier weight but is somewhat undersized among his peers in the Welterweight division, case in point Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman. Highlight victories over the likes of Nate Diaz, a shocking one punch stoppage of Benson Henderson, a smothering display against Anthony Pettis, two victories over 'Cowboy' Cerrone and a mauling of Robbie Lawler still garners a lot of praise and respect towards the Rio born dos Anjos.
Fighting a staph infection heading into the biggest fight of his career against Tony Ferguson for the Interim Lightweight title, a severely diminished Lee displayed some very impressive wrestling and ground and pound in the early rounds before falling victim to a triangle in the third. Failing to make weight against Edson Barboza, Lee tipped the scales at 157lbs and despite eating an hellacious wheel kick in the third round, recovered to force a doctor's stoppage midway through the fifth after opening a huge cut above Barboza's right eye. Another tricky cut was next for Kevin Lee as he was pitted against former opponent Al Iaquinta in late 2018. A five round decision went against 'The Mo Town Phenom' leaving him stuck between a rock and a hard place at Lightweight.
UFC Fight Night Rochester takes place on May 18th. from the Blue Cross Arena, with an interesting Bantamweight bow for Sijara Eubanks taking place against recent upstart Aspen Ladd.
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