The battle of the Rafaels will have to wait.
MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Damon Martin confirmed with sources with knowledge of the postponement that next Saturday’s lightweight main event between Rafael dos Anjos and Rafael Fiziev is off of the UFC Vegas 48 card. Ariel Helwani first reported the news.
Current plans are to reschedule the matchup for UFC 272 on March 5. The bout will continue to be five rounds.
The delay in Fiziev’s visa application is the reason for this change. Fiziev, a Kyrgyzstani native fighting out of Thailand at the moment.
Dos Anjos, a former UFC champion and the No. 8 lightweight in MMA Fighting’s Global Rankings, was to make his first appearance since November 2020 when he defeated Paul Felder by split decision at UFC Vegas 14. That win snapped a two-fight skid for “RDA.”
Fiziev (11) hopes to keep his streak of hot performances in the loaded 155-pound category. He won his fifth consecutive victory with Brad Riddell’s highlight reel spin kick in round three of his December outing.
It is not yet known what bout will serve as the new main event for UFC Vegas 48.
