Rafael dos Anjos has disclosed that he underwent three consecutive surgeries following his October 2024 UFC appearance against Geoff Neal. The first procedure was meniscus surgery performed in Brazil, which dos Anjos says was botched when the surgeon incorrectly attempted to stitch the meniscus rather than perform the appropriate repair.
Rafael dos Anjos has revealed that he has undergone three consecutive surgeries since his October 2024 UFC fight against Geoff Neal, shedding light on a prolonged medical ordeal that has kept the Brazilian veteran sidelined well into 2026.
Dos Anjos, 41, holds a professional record of 32-17 and trains out of RDA Academy in Brazil. The southpaw operates at 173 cm and carries a 178-centimeter reach. A former UFC lightweight champion, he has remained active across multiple divisions over a lengthy career, averaging 3.48 significant strikes landed per minute and nearly two takedown attempts per 15 minutes — a reflection of his well-rounded, pressure-based style.
The first of the three procedures was a meniscus surgery performed in Brazil. Dos Anjos has stated that the operation was botched, with the surgeon incorrectly attempting to stitch the meniscus rather than carry out the proper repair. That initial error appears to have set off the chain of follow-up surgeries required to address the resulting complications.
His October 2024 opponent, Geoff Neal, competes at welterweight with a record of 16-8. The 35-year-old American, known as "Handz of Steel," trains at Fortis MMA and is one of the division's more dangerous strikers, landing 5.02 significant strikes per minute at a fifty-percent accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- Dos Anjos has now been out of action for the better part of two years, raising questions about his path back to competition at 41 years old.
- The disclosure of a surgical error adds a layer of complexity to his recovery timeline, as corrective procedures typically extend rehabilitation significantly.
- His absence removes a durable, experienced southpaw from a welterweight and lightweight landscape where veteran contenders remain valuable matchmaking assets.
