UFC Fight Night 42's Rafael dos Anjos ready for all comers, not thinking about title

Just when it was looking like Rafael dos Anjos was on the kind of roll that could put him in title contention, he ran into a Dagestani stumbling block.

Dos Anjos put together an impressive five-fight winning streak, including victories over Donald Cerrone and Evan Dunham. But against Khabib Nurmagomedov in April, his momentum was stifled with a unanimous decision loss.

Less than two months later, dos Anjos (20-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) meets Jason High (18-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) tonight at UFC Fight Night 42. It’s a quick turnaround because he wants to get right back on track.

“Since I wasn’t hurt, right after that fight I told my manager I wished to come back as soon as possible to stay in a fighting rhythm,” dos Anjos told MMAjunkie. “I don’t wish to be idle again. While on a short vacation, I was offered a bout in five weeks and I emphatically said I’d take it. I’m eager to fight again. I didn’t feel I really got to fight when I faced Khabib.”

The dos Anjos-High fight is part of the main card at UFC Fight Night 42, which sees a FOX Sports 1 broadcast tonight from Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, N.M.

After dos Anjos fought and upset Cerrone, he had eight months before he fought Nurmagomedov. It shouldn’t have been that long, but a fight with Rustam Khabilov fell apart, forcing him to wait.

And that’s not something he wants to do again. Instead, he’s returning tonight with a little bit more fire in his eyes, knowing just how much a setback like the one against Nurmagomedov can cost him.

“I’ll agree to face anyone who can make 155,” he said. “The UFC gave me a chance to come back quickly and I’m loving it.”

High is a former welterweight who is dropping down to lightweight for the first time. The funny thing about that is, dos Anjos said he isn’t worried about any size advantage that might be there for his opponent.

In fact, if the UFC’s heavyweight champion wanted to drop to 155, that’s a fight dos Anjos would take, too.

“If Cain Velasquez steps up and makes 155, then I’ll face him, too,” dos Anjos said. “I don’t choose my opponents. I’m just concerned in doing my job and fighting for real. I always want to put on a great show for the fans.”

With his title aspirations put on hold after his loss in April at UFC on FOX 11, dos Anjos said thinking about the belt isn’t something he can do.

Instead, he plans to go out and win fight after fight, and if a title shot is meant to be, it’s meant to be.

“A shot at the belt will come naturally,” he said. “I’m simply thinking about winning each fight. I don’t obsess about the belt. I’m 29 and I feel the belt will come sooner or later.”

Tonight, he looks for the first step in that process.

For the latest on UFC Fight Night 42, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.