FILE—Rafael dos Anjos, top, fights with Anthony Pettis in the Lightweight Title bout during the UFC 185 event at American Airlines Center on March 14, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP
Current UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor may have held two title belts in two weight divisions in his past promotion, but UFC lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos, his next opponent, isn’t worried about the former making UFC history.
Speaking to MMAFighting.com, dos Anjos said, “UFC lightweight division isn’t the belt he got in Ireland when he fought a guy with a record of 2-7.”
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McGregor previously held simultaneous titles in the 145 and 155 pound divisions for Irish promotion Cage Warriors. He will try to replicate that feat when he faces dos Anjos at UFC 197 in Las Vegas on March 5 for the lightweight belt.
However, dos Anjos said that comparing the two is like pitting apples to oranges.
“It’s a different world. He fought guys that don’t even have Sherdog pages. He holds belts off his amateur show in Ireland. It’s a different story to hold two UFC belts,” he said.
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Dos Anjos also welcomed his opponent’s brash style before the fight, but warned McGregor that his words will eventually backfire.
“Lightweight division is a different story. We’ll see. Everybody talks. Anthony Pettis talked before the fight. Donald Cerrone talked before the fight. See what happened? I’ll let him talk and we’ll see what happens. I hope he’s training hard. I think he’s going to be scared once I hit him.”
Dos Anjos acknowledged that McGregor’s move to challenge him was a wise decision, saying “he doesn’t have anything to lose.”
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“He’s a smart guy. He knows that if he loses to Jose Aldo or Frankie Edgar, he doesn’t have anything. But at lightweight, if he wins, he’s the man. If he loses, he still has his belt.”
Despite McGregor shooting for history, dos Anjos implied that “he’s not feeling any pressure.”
“I have to take care of my family, my team and my legacy. It’s one more fight,” he said. “There isn’t anything special in this fight. I’m just happy to put my hands on this guy and make him humble. I think the toughest part of this camp will be not putting my hands on him before the fight happens.”