Santiago Ponzinibbio calls out Rafael dos Anjos for short-notice matchup

Santiago Ponzinibbio wants to fight Rafael dos Anjos and is ready to go as soon as next weekend.

Following Anthony Pettis’ win over Donald Cerrone at UFC 249, dos Anjos called out Pettis for a rematch, but got a response from Ponzinibbio instead.

“I am here @RdosAnjosMMA next weekend or when you’re ready @danawhite”

Dos Anjos (30-13 MMA, 18-11 UFC) responded to Ponzinibbio’s tweet in Portuguese, calling him “a comedian.”

The two South American contenders have been going back-and-forth online for years, but have never met inside the octagon.

In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, dos Anjos said he’s staying ready in his home gym and would be willing to step in on short notice if the company needed him. He last competed in January, when he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Michael Chiesa at UFC on ESPN+ 24.

Meanwhile, Ponzinibbio (27-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is riding a seven-fight win streak, but hasn’t fought since November 2018, when he stopped Neil Magny in his home country of Argentina at UFC Fight Night 140. Now healthy and free from injuries, he’s eyeing a return to the octagon and appears to be ready to jump in as soon as next week.