Former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos has been attempting to call out Tony Ferguson for a rematch, but now his namesake Rafael Fiziev has come up with an alternative option.
“@TonyFergusonXT do you have plans for February 19? I gave @ufc green light on my end,” Dos Anjos had wrote to Ferguson on New Years Day.
Ferguson appeared disinterested in returning to an opponent he’d previously beaten in 2016 however and was more interested in mulling over a potential fight with Michael Chandler instead.
Now Fiziev has stepped in and suggested that RDA should stop looking to the past and instead take on a fresh fight with him instead.
“We all saw that fight and I already replied to ufc that I’m available for that day,” Fiziev responded to Dos Anjos.
This is part of an ongoing campaign from Fiziev to fight RDA that began before Christmas.
“Rafael: Yesterday is the history. Tomorrow is a mystery, But today is a gift,” Fiziev had previously wrote to dos Anjos. “That’s why it’s called the present. Let’s find out who is the best Rafa in the UFC.”
At the time dos Anjos appeared dismissive of Fiziev’s suggestion though and appeared to balk at the idea of being compared to the up-and-coming star.
“The day you hang a belt on your wall I will look at your resume and let you know which of us is the best Rafael,” dos Anjos wrote.
Fiziev is looking for a way to break into the lightweight division’s top 10 after compiling an impressive five-fight winning streak in the UFC over the past few years, defeating the likes of Mark Diakiese, Renato Moicano, Bobby Green and most recently Brad Riddell to reach the No.11 spot.
Meanwhile, dos Anjos returned to lightweight in 2020 after a rough spell at welterweight and picked up a split decision victory over Paul Felder and still holds the No.6 place on the lightweight ladder despite not having fought since.
