Report: Dos Anjos, Chiesa agree to fight at UFC Raleigh
Former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos and Michael Chiesa have agreed to a welterweight clash at UFC Raleigh on Jan. 25, sources told Brett Okamoto of ESPN.
Dos Anjos (29-12) won his first three bouts at welterweight before dropping fights against Colby Covington and now-champion Kamaru Usman, who will battle for the title at UFC 245 on Dec. 14.
The fifth-ranked fighter at 170 lbs most recently lost to Leon Edwards via unanimous decision in July after beating Kevin Lee earlier in the year.
Meanwhile, fellow former lightweight Chiesa has looked reborn in his new division.
The American made his move up from lightweight after two straight defeats. He quickly established himself as a genuine threat at 170 lbs by taking out Carlos Condit (second-round submission) last December and Diego Sanchez (unanimous decision) in July.
A heavyweight bout between Curtis Blaydes and former champion Junior dos Santos will headline the stacked UFC Raleigh event.
Elsewhere, Frankie Edgar, another former titleholder, is set to make his much-anticipated bantamweight debut against Cory Sandhagen.