Former champ Rafael dos Anjos returns to lightweight to fight Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 299 in March

Rafael dos Anjos will return to lightweight with an opportunity to disrupt the top of the division.

Dos Anjos, 39, has made his last two octagon appearances at welterweight. But for his next fight, he’s going back to the division where he was once UFC champion as he’s set to meet Mateusz Gamrot in a 155-pound bout March 9 at UFC 299.

The event is expected to take place in Miami, but the promotion has yet to officially confirm the location and venue.

Despite not competing as a lightweight since July 2022, Dos Anjos (32-15 MMA, 21-13 UFC) remains No. 11in the official UFC rankings, while Gamrot (23-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is No. 6.

Gamrot, 33, had been on a four-fight winning streak before he lost to Beneil Dariush in October 2022. Since then, he’s earned back-to-back victories against Jalin Turner (by split decision) and most recently Rafael Fiziev (by injury TKO) this past September.

In his two most recent appearances at welterweight, dos Anjos choked out Bryan Barberena last year and followed up with a unanimous decision loss to Vicente Luque in a five-round headliner this past August.

The updated UFC 299 card includes:

• Champ Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera – for bantamweight title
• Maycee Barber vs. Katlyn Chookagian
• Jailton Almeida vs. Curtis Blaydes
• Rafael dos Anjos vs. Mateusz Gamrot
• Pedro Munhoz vs. Kyler Phillips
• Lauren Murphy vs. Karine Silva
• Asu Almabaev vs. CJ Vergara

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.