Rafael dos Anjos makes welterweight debut against Tarec Saffiedine

[Edge Guerrero]

at UFC Fight Night 111

by Shaun Al-Shatti @shaunalshatti Apr 3, 2017

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos will make his welterweight debut against ex-Strikeforce titleholder Tarec Saffiedine on June 17 at UFC Fight Night 111. Asian outlet Channel News Asia first announced the booking on Monday.

Dos Anjos (25-9) announced his intentions to move up in weight in January following back-to-back losses at the hands of Eddie Alvarez and Tony Ferguson. The 32-year-old Brazilian is a nine-year UFC veteran who hit a career-changing run from 2012 to 2015, during which he won 10 of 11 fights and captured the UFC lightweight title. Included in that run were victories over Anthony Pettis, Donald Cerrone (x2), Nate Diaz, and Benson Henderson, among others.

Dos Anjos lost his title in July 2016 with a first-round TKO loss to Alvarez. This past January, he told MMA Fighting that he passed out multiple times prior to the fight due to severe weight cutting.

"My body changed between 2014 and 2015,” dos Anjos said. "I fought five times in 11 months, during that run for the title. I don’t see anyone doing this. I see Cerrone doing this, but I don’t see other doing this. I walk around with 187, 198 pounds, easy, and to cut this weight five times in 11 months was too much.

Source http://www.mmafighting.com/2017/4/3/15170988/rafael-dos-anjos-makes-welterweight-debut-against-tarec-saffiedine-at-ufc-fight-night-111