By Jim Edwards

After being sidelined by a broken foot, Rafael dos Anjos will be back in action Thursday evening when he faces challenger Eddie Alvarez in the headline bout of the UFC Fight Night 90 card.

It has been nearly eight months since dos Anjos last took to the Octagon to defend his UFC lightweight belt after being forced to pull out of his scheduled "Superfight" bout with Conor McGregor back in March at UFC 196.

Now, the current UFC lightweight champion believes fans are going to see the best of version of himself come fight night.

"I felt like I did two fight camps in one, and I just can't wait for this Thursday," dos Anjos said. "I'm going to keep my belt, drive back the same night if possible and just enjoy it. There are always positive things to take from that (pulled out of UFC 196 injured) and I got in shape so quick after that. I went to Singapore for four weeks and I was already in shape there, I got back to California and finished my camp here with five or six weeks at Kings.

"I've been a part of Evolve MMA since 2009 when I had my first UFC win. I go every single year for one or two months, and I lived in Singapore back in 2010 for three months. I just like being in a different environment and being around different people. I have a lot of friends and it feels like my home in Asia. I feel very comfortable there and I always have my mind open to learn (new things)."

In his last two scheduled fights, his opponents Donald Cerrone and Conor McGregor were outspoken about dos Anjos and tried to get under his skin. 

This time around, Eddie Alvarez has mostly avoided trash talking. dos Anjos was more than happy to put Alvarez over for his prior credentials in other organizations, but admitted he wasn't one to ever go out of the way to study his opponents. 



"I didn't see much of his fights before (the fight was booked) but I knew he was a tough guy and that he's been a champion of different organizations," dos Anjos said. "Even now he's in the UFC, I don't try to watch my opponents all that much because when I do that I always end up thinking about what my opponent is going to do too much and I forget about myself.

"I always just focus on my own thing, I know he's a tough guy, but I'm in a great moment of my life and I'm 100 percent ready to keep my belt."

After pulling out of the fight with McGregor in March, dos Anjos said he's more than happy to face him should the opportunity rise again.

"Conor McGregor is the 145-pound champion and I am the lightweight champ, I can't make 145 because I would need to cut my leg off," dos Anjos joked. "Who wants two belts? He wants two belts. He wants to be a two-division champ like he said. 

"My job is to just to keep my lightweight belt, so if he wants to come to lightweight and the UFC thinks he's worth the shot, then I will be there; he's welcome."

While dos Anjos totally ruled out a move down to featherweight, he said he wouldn't oppose a move up in weight if he was able to beat the finest that lightweight had to offer.

"I'm 31 years old and I don't know how long I can continue (at lightweight), but I feel in great shape and it's not as if I have much mileage on the body," dos Anjos said. "I feel fresh and I lead a good life. I eat well and I take care of my body, but maybe in the future (I will move up in weight). 

"I want to make sure that I clean up this lightweight division and then I'll go looking for some 'super fights,' perhaps up a weight. I will just have to wait and see what God has for me in the future."



With his focus devoted completely to Eddie Alvarez, dos Anjos didn't have strong feelings regarding who he thought he should face next.

"It's hard to tell (the pecking order) because there are a lot of guys out there and I can't think of anyone else outside of Eddie," dos Anjos said. The current lightweight champion then talked about the joys of holding a UFC title and the responsibilities he felt came with it.

"Of course, money is important to me because I fight to earn money to support my family. Money doesn't come first in my life. All the people you see who put money first, it doesn't go well. I put God first in my life and everything else behind that. I like money but I don't love money; it's not in my heart. I think I've started to build a good legacy and I like to think I've set the right example for kids. As UFC fighters we impact a lot of peoples' lives and I think we need to send out a good message."