Rafael dos Anjos nearly retired after three surgeries: 'Man, this is it'

Rafael dos Anjos, the former UFC lightweight champion, is set to return to the octagon after nearly two years of absence. The Brazilian fighter recently revealed that he has undergone three surgeries on his left knee, which nearly forced him to retire. Dos Anjos details the series of events that led to his decision in a recent interview with Ariel Helwani.

The knee surgeries began after his loss to Geoff Neal in October 2024, where he suffered a 90-second stoppage defeat. Dos Anjos received treatment in Brazil, where the doctor mistakenly attempted to stitch up his meniscus, a move that proved to be disastrous. Four or five months later, the injury tore again, leading to another surgery in Austin, Texas. However, the American surgeon inadvertently left some stitches inside dos Anjos' knee, causing inflammation and limiting his range of motion.

Feeling desperate, dos Anjos contemplated hanging up his gloves. However, he acknowledges that his previous losses have not been complete dominations, which gives him hope to give it one more shot. Despite having four more fights on his contract, dos Anjos is eager to prove himself again and rebound from his current three-fight losing streak.