Dos Anjos open to McGregor fight but refuses to wait on sidelines like Chandler

Rafael dos Anjos has expressed genuine interest in finally sharing the octagon with Conor McGregor, nearly a decade after their originally scheduled lightweight title fight fell apart — but the Brazilian veteran made clear he will not sacrifice active competition to wait for a bout that may never come.

Speaking ahead of his 50th professional fight against Alexander Hernandez at UFC 332 this Saturday, dos Anjos told MMA Fighting that a meeting with McGregor would be “awesome,” while drawing a deliberate contrast with Michael Chandler’s prolonged and ultimately fruitless wait for the Irishman. “It’s not about money, my life went on,” dos Anjos said. “I’m not going to do like Michael Chandler and sit on the sidelines for two years waiting for a fight that never happens.”

The two fighters were originally booked to meet at UFC 197 in 2016, when dos Anjos held the lightweight title, but a foot injury forced him to withdraw. McGregor went on to a high-profile two-fight series with Nate Diaz, while dos Anjos subsequently lost his belt to Eddie Alvarez. The unfinished business has lingered ever since.

McGregor’s most recent comeback attempt ended badly at UFC 329 in July, when a knee injury stopped his fight with Max Holloway after less than a minute of action. The former two-division champion has floated April as a potential return date, a timeline that could align with dos Anjos’ schedule if he beats Hernandez on Saturday.

McGregor appeared to acknowledge the olive branch, responding to coverage of dos Anjos’ comments with a brief “Thank you Rafael.”

Dos Anjos, who tore his ACL against Geoff Neal at UFC 308 in October 2024, said he sympathises with McGregor’s injury frustrations but questioned whether the Dubliner still has the hunger required to return at the highest level. “He could come back, but he’s got to want it,” dos Anjos said. “If you’re too comfortable with your life and with finances, you’re not motivated, you’re not going to come back. You have to be really dialed in and want to do one more fight.”

Saturday’s bout with Hernandez will be dos Anjos’ 37th appearance inside the UFC octagon, a milestone that underlines just how active he has remained across a career spanning more than two decades. Whether a McGregor fight follows will depend on results on both sides — but dos Anjos has made plain that his own momentum will not be held hostage to the uncertainty.