Rafael dos Anjos and Rafael Fiziev have kept it professional all the way through.
The two UFC lightweight contenders have had a very respectful buildup to their clash in the main event of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 39. From pre-fight interviews to fight week and now the final staredowns, both dos Anjos (31-13 MMA, 20-11 UFC) and Fiziev (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) have been very cordial.
You can watch the main event staredown, as well as the staredowns for the rest of UFC on ESPN 39 in the video above.
Dos Anjos has won back-to-back fights after a tough stretch of four losses in five bouts. But those losses all came at welterweight to Colby Covington, current champion Kamaru Usman, upcoming title challenger Leon Edwards and Michael Chiesa – all by decision. Since his return to lightweight, he has wins over Paul Felder and, in March, Renato Moicano.
Fiziev has been on a roll since the lone loss of his pro career, which came in his UFC debut in April 2019. Since then, he has five straight wins and has post-fight bonus awards in four straight. This past December, he stopped Brad Riddell with a highlight-reel spinning wheel kick.
