With a current MMA record of 12 wins, 4 losses, with only 1 of those losses coming via KO. Rafael dos Anjos is a rising superstar in the UFC Lightweight Division and is also a member of the official fight team of Evolve MMA. Based in Rio de Janeiro at Evolve Brazil, Rafael is a BJJ Black Belt with aggressive striking. How aggressive? Check out his match with Rob Emerson at UFC 103 and you will see how good a game plan Rafael had, demolishing Rob Emerson with a series of brutal low leg kicks and earning the unanimous decision victory! Rafael is in town recently to work on his Muay Thai at Evolve Singapore and we managed to secure Rafael’s thoughts on his fight at UC 103 and much more!

SG Pro: Rafael, first of all, welcome to Singapore and thank you for finding the time to do this interview with us! This is our first interview with a UFC fighter and honestly, we are very much honored to have you with us!

Rafael: Thank you for having me here.

SG Pro: First off, congratulations on the victory at UFC 103! We watch the match and one thought came to our mind. Great fight. Four minutes into the first round, amidst the exchange of strikes, Rob Emerson tried to clinch you and throws you towards the cage, you however using a foot, tees off the cage and comes right back to guard! Then in the opening seconds of the third round, we saw you throwing a really great low kick that had Rob Emerson buckling down. Was that your strategy going into the match? Attacking the legs of Rob Emerson and cutting him down?

Rafael: No, I adapted as the fight went on.  Before the fight, the strategy was to take him down and submit him.  But he had better wrestling than I thought.  Also, I saw that he was putting a lot of weight on his front leg.  So I took advantage of it and decided to throw low leg kicks and use my Muay Thai.

Rob Emerson was clearly taken out of his game and was visibly upset after the unanimous decision was awarded to you. Clearly Rob Emerson has come into the fight thinking that you as a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt would want to bring the fight to the ground and never had expect you to actually stand up with him. Your thoughts?

Rafael: Yes, my plan was to take him down.  But my stand up is quite good too.

SG Pro: During the UFC 103 weigh ins, you and Rob Emerson had an intense staredown and Dana White had to restraint Emerson. What was in your mind at that very moment?

Rafael: Rob came very close to me and put his face very close to mine.  I was a little angry and I was not going to back down.  I was prepared to destroy him.

SG Pro: Out of your 12 wins, five of them came from submission victories, one via TKO and the remaining five via decision, do you personally prefer to submit an opponent as oppose to knocking them out?

Rafael: I like to submit people more.

SG Pro: All three of your UFC fights went to the limit; three rounds. Do you train specifically to go all three rounds and what kind of advice do you have for aspiring fighters who want to work on their cardio?

Rafael: I do cardio training.  I run uphill.  I also do a lot of strength and conditioning.  I usually do it 3x per week in addition to my training in BJJ, Muay Thai, and Wrestling.

SG Pro: Let’s move back in time back to UFC Fight Night 18 where you fought a tough fight against Tyson Griffin. Even though you lost the fight via unanimous decision, you had Tyson Griffin in several submission holds and the fight won “Fight of the Night” honors. Tell us your thoughts on the fight.

Rafael: I had a leg lock on him and I thought he would tap.  It was a very tough fight.  He has a very fast pace and great cardio.

SG Pro: And back to UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar, you took Jeremy Stephens to the limit only to get KO by an uppercut in the opening seconds of the third round. That is by far the only loss in your career where it is not a decision loss. If you have the chance, would you want to take on Jeremy Stephens again and avenge that loss?

Rafael:  I don’t mind, but I want to fight the best fighters in the world.  Right now, there are plenty of people who are superstars like Kenny Florian, BJ Penn, Diego Sanchez, and Clay Guida.  I want to fight any of those guys.

SG Pro: You were the Lightweight Champion in Fury FC, Brazil’s top MMA promotion. A promotion where Evolve MMA instructors, Antonio Braga Neto and Leandro Issa also fought in. How was the competition like in Fury FC?

Rafael:  The fighters in Fury FC are elite fighters.  They are very tough.

SG Pro: You were on a rampage in Brazilian MMA promotions like Fury FC, XFC,      Juiz de For a, Arena BH among others. Tell us, have you ever dreamt that one day that you’ll be fighting in the UFC?

Rafael:  Being the UFC Champion has always been my dream.

SG Pro: How is training with the Evolve-Sityodtong Muay Thai team like? Has training with them added a new dimension to your already devastating striking arsenal?

Rafael:  The best Muay Thai fighters and teachers in the world are at Evolve. I have learned a lot.  They are very technical and give a lot of details.

SG Pro: You also train in Evolve Brazil, where Professor Gordo is the head instructor. Share with us how is training under the inventor of the half guard like.

Rafael:  Gordo is the best teacher.  He is a great friend.  He is my main cornerman and he is always very relaxed and calm.

SG Pro: You are going be 25 this coming 26th October, what will your birthday wish this year?

Rafael:  I want to win all my fights in the UFC.  I love fighting in the UFC.  My dream is to get a title shot and win it.  But let’s see how my next fights go.  I am still trying to find my place in the UFC.  I believe that I can be World Champion.  I also want to bring exciting fights for the fans.

SG Pro: How has your stay in Singapore been thus far? Has the Evolve Team brought you around?

Rafael:  Singapore is great.  The tropical weather is like Brazil.  I like Singapore.

SG Pro: Will there be any chance of you holding a MMA Seminar at Evolve MMA in the near future?

Rafael:  Yes, I plan to do an MMA seminar during my stay at Evolve.

SG Pro: Who would you want to face next in the UFC Lightweight Division besides the current UFC Lightweight Champion, B.J. Penn?

Rafael:  I want to fight Nate Diaz.  I think it would be a very exciting fight.  But I am willing to fight anyone that UFC wants me to fight.  I am a warrior.

SG Pro: Who is your favourite fighter and why?

Rafael: I love Minotauro.  He is the Rocky Balboa of Brazil.  He is very technical with a great chin.  He has a big heart.

SG Pro: You trained under Professor Gordo in Evolve Brazil and now that you are in Singapore, you are training under Professor Gordinho. How is it like training under two of the best instructors that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has to offer?

Rafael:  They are both the best with super technique.  Gordo is more slow paced.  Gordinho is more fast paced.

SG Pro: When we told a couple of our loyal readers that we’ll be interviewing a UFC fighter, they all clamber to ask for their questions to be answered, we choose three of them and here goes; if weight class isn’t an issue, who would you want to face and why?

Rafael:  I would love to fight Lyoto Machida.  He has a different style.  He is unique.  It would be fun to fight him.

SG Pro: Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

Rafael:  UFC Champion

SG Pro: Who was your toughest opponent thus far in your career?

Rafael:  Tyson Griffin

SG Pro: And it’s time for our little word association again! This is how it works, i’ll name someone and you will have to describe that person in just seven words or less. Here goes nothing, Professor Gordo.

Rafael: Good friend, good teacher.  Serious.

SG Pro: Jeremy Stephens.

Rafael:  Heavy hands

SG Pro: Tyson Griffin.

Rafael:  Good cardio, good fighter

SG Pro: Rob Emerson.

Rafael:  Heavy hands

SG Pro: Professor Gordinho

Rafael:  Good friend and good teacher.

SG Pro: B.J. Penn

Rafael:  The best in the world right now

SG Pro: The Sityodtong Muay Thai Team

Rafael:  Best Muay Thai in the world

SG Pro: Evolve MMA.

Rafael:  My new home

SG Pro: Fury FC.

Rafael:  It gave me the passport to UFC

SG Pro: UFC.

Rafael:  Best in the world

SG Pro: And of course last but not least, Rafael Dos Anjos.

Rafael:  The future UFC Lightweight Champion

SG Pro: Some really interesting word association there, Rafael. With that we come to a concluding end to your interview. Any parting words for our readers?

Rafael:  Train hard.  Learn from great teachers.  Believe in your dreams.

SG Pro: Rafael, thank you so much for your time and we hope to see you fighting soon in the UFC again!

Rafael:  Thank you.

*SG Pro – Fight Community would like to thank UFC Fighter and Evolve Fight Team member, Rafael Dos Anjos for finding time to do this interview with us.  Do continuing visiting SG Pro – Fight Community for more MMA goodness!