UFC 197: Rafael Dos Anjos Will Break Conor McGregor's Soul, Says Coach
UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is set to defend his title against featherweight champion Conor McGregor at UFC 197 on March 5, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kings MMA head coach Rafael Cordeiro confirmed that they are in contract talks with the UFC and is very sure that dos Anjos will not only defeat McGregor, but he will also break his soul.
"It's a fighter that we truly believe we can beat. He's coming from a lower division, and he can be sure that he'll face a strong champion who will not change his style. McGregor has already proven to be a great athlete, but we have five rounds to beat him," Cordeiro told Sherdog.
"And Rafael is coming in hungry to beat him, not only physically but spiritually, and to break his soul inside the Octagon. I bet Rafael will finish him in a brutal way, the same way he has finished his last fights," he added.
The lightweight champion is coming off his very first title defense against Donald Cerrone at UFC on FOX 17 last Dec. 19, 2015, in Orlando, Florida. He made quick work of Cerrone, knocking him out in just 66 seconds.
"Notorious" have also commented on his next fight in a lengthy post on Facebook while thanking all the award-giving bodies that named him their "Fighter of the Year" for 2015. "My next fight. What can I say, it's just another night of easy work for me. I don't just own the game. I run it too," McGregor wrote.
The featherweight champion is looking to become the third UFC fighter in history to win titles in two separate divisions and the first one to hold both championships. BJ Penn and Randy Couture are the other two-division champions in UFC history.
However, according to oddsmaker Joey Oddessa, McGregor will be coming into the fight as an underdog despite coming off an impressive 13-second knockout win over Jose Aldo at UFC 194, ending his 10-year dominance. Odessa told MMA Junkie that dos Anjos has won ten out of his 11 fights, and is really bigger in size and experience than the 27-year-old Irishman.
Bleacher Report added that the 31-year-old dos Anjos is the best lightweight in the world today and might be the most well-rounded fighter in the UFC. He is 10-1 since 2011 and has defeated four lightweights in the official UFC rankings including Cerrone, Nate Diaz, Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis.
Who do you think will win at UFC 197? Will Rafael dos Anjos break Conor McGregor's soul? Give us your answer and comments below.
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