LAS VEGAS — There’s a story involving Rafael dos Anjos and Kamaru Usman from 2011 that’s probably appropriate to revisit this week.
Dos Anjos (28-10) and Usman (13-1) will square off in a marquee welterweight fight on Friday at The Ultimate Fighter Finale at The Palms in Las Vegas. This week will not, however, be the first time these two share a mat.
Back in 2011, Usman was not a pro fighter, but he made an appearance on TUF as a wrestling coach for Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller. Dos Anjos was already in the UFC, working his way into lightweight title contention.
Their paths happened to cross at an MMA gym in California. Usman visited the facility on a day of sparring, and apparently went a round or two with dos Anjos. Neither of them remember it extremely well, but they definitely remember it from different perspectives.
“I don’t remember really how it went,” dos Anjos said. “I was probably focusing on something bigger and he was an up-and-coming guy. For me it only one more training. For him, it was probably something bigger.”
Usman said he did “very well” in sparring, and only later found out dos Anjos was in the UFC.
“I was asking questions, ‘Who is that guy?'” Usman said. “They said, ‘He’s in the UFC.’ I walked away and said, ‘You know, he’s in the UFC, maybe I can do this.’ If he was paying attention, he would know that’s a bad m—–f—– when he gets in this sport.”
Seven years later, they obviously know each other well — but perhaps there are still similarities to the first time they met.
Usman certainly thinks so. He’s referred to dos Anjos, a former lightweight champion, as “complacent” and claimed he is the hungrier fighter going into Friday. Usman served as a possible backup to a title fight in September, and is potentially one win away from securing a title shot.
Dos Anjos is coming off a key loss to Colby Covington in an interim title fight in June, but promises that is not the case. The Brazilian celebrated the birth of his third child earlier this year, and said he is more motivated than ever.
“I come from a poor background. I don’t have rich parents. I’m the only one to provide for [my kids],” dos Anjos said. “I know that little one needs me. Once you see that baby, you know he needs you and I’m going for it.”
A lot has changed in the dynamic between dos Anjos and Usman since their first interaction, but maybe not everything. Dos Anjos is chasing something greater, and Usman is chasing dos Anjos’ spot. What impact that may have on the fight, we’ll see on Friday.