Dos Anjos back to light training, looking at possible July return against Alvarez

Rafael dos Anjos' recovery is coming along nicely after a foot injury took him out of a blockbuster fight with Conor McGregor in March.

The UFC lightweight champion appeared on "Inside MMA" on Friday and he brought good news regarding his health situation.

"(It was) my first week without the boot. My doctor cleared me to walk barefoot," Dos Anjos said, according to Sherdog's Tristen Critchfield. "I started working a little bit, hit some bags, doing some techniques."

If it sounds like Dos Anjos' camp is taking things slowly, it's only because they want to give themselves the best chance of being ready to compete in July, possibly even at UFC 200.

And if Dos Anjos has any say in the matter, his next defense will be against Eddie Alvarez.

"Maybe they have different plans for me. I need to defend my title against Eddie Alvarez. I think he is maybe the No. 1 contender," Dos Anjos said. "He is coming off a victory over Anthony Pettis, a former champion. But I told them, I fight anybody, any weight."