Rafael dos Anjos says he would welcome a long-delayed fight with Conor McGregor, calling the idea "awesome," but insists he will not sit on the sidelines for two years waiting on it the way Michael Chandler did. McGregor's comeback bout with Max Holloway at UFC 329 in July ended after barely a minute when he suffered a knee injury, and McGregor has floated April as a possible return. Dos Anjos faces Alexander Hernandez at UFC 332 this Saturday, and McGregor responded to his comments with "Thank you Rafael." The pair were set to meet at UFC 197 in 2016 before dos Anjos withdrew with an injury.
Rafael dos Anjos says he would welcome a fight with Conor McGregor, but he is not willing to put his career on hold waiting for it. The former lightweight champion called the idea "awesome" while making clear he will not spend two years on the sidelines the way Michael Chandler did. The comments come ahead of his bout with Alexander Hernandez at UFC 332 this Saturday, and McGregor reportedly replied with a short "Thank you Rafael." The exchange has not led to any official booking.
The fight has a long history. Dos Anjos and McGregor were scheduled to meet at UFC 197 in 2016, but dos Anjos withdrew with an injury. Nearly a decade later, the matchup remains talk rather than a done deal.
McGregor's own situation is unsettled. His comeback fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329 in July ended after barely a minute when he suffered a knee injury. McGregor has floated April as a possible return.
The men in the frame
Hernandez, 34, enters UFC 332 with an 18-9 record and trains out of Factory X. The American is an Orthodox fighter who lands 4.31 significant strikes per minute at 40 percent accuracy. His takedown average of 1.14 per 15 minutes points to a willingness to mix in wrestling.
Chandler, now 40 and 23-11, is the cautionary tale dos Anjos referenced. The American's long wait for a McGregor fight is the example the Brazilian says he will not follow. Chandler lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and averages 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Holloway, 34, is 28-9 and ranks fourth at lightweight and ninth on the pound-for-pound list. He lands 6.92 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. His fight with McGregor at UFC 329 is the bout that ended so quickly.
Why it matters
- Dos Anjos is treating a McGregor fight as welcome but not essential, and he is staying active rather than waiting.
- McGregor's April target remains only a possibility following the knee injury, so any timeline for a dos Anjos matchup is unclear.
- Dos Anjos must first get past Hernandez at UFC 332.
Alexander Hernandez vs Rafael Dos Anjos
See the AI pick, live odds and the full matchup breakdown
Saturday, October 3, 2026
