5 retirement fights for Rafael dos Anjos

#2. Rafael dos Anjos vs. Arman Tsarukyan

Arman Tsarukyan has a record of 18-3

Two weeks prior to Rafael dos Anjos's loss to Rafael Fiziev, the UFC put on another big-time main event in the lightweight division. On that night, Mateusz Gamrot narrowly defeated Arman Tsarukyan via unanimous decision in an incredibly high-level bout between two future stars.

Tsarukyan may have been unsuccessful on that occasion, but his future still appears very bright at just 25 years old. He possesses incredible grappling skills, which would create a fascinating matchup given dos Anjos's own abilities

This bout is also appropriate when considering the rankings. Even if dos Anjos were to opt against retirement, this would still be a logical next fight for the Brazilian. Tsarukyan would also have the chance to bounce back in a big way if he were to lose, so this fight would not be too much of a risk.

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#1. Rafael dos Anjos vs. Nate Diaz II

Nate Diaz has a record of 20-13

The previous entries on this list would be smart choices for the UFC if they wanted to build up new stars, but there is another approach to dos Anjos' potential retirement: putting on the biggest fight possible. Rafael dos Anjos and Nate Diaz have history, and with the latter desperate for a fight at the moment, this could be a great option.

The pair fought back in 2014 in what was effectively a No.1 contender's bout in the division. dos Anjos won on that occasion via unanimous decision and went on to capture the lightweight title in his next bout. While neither man is currently in title contention, a rematch would be an even bigger bout than the first one.

dos Anjos is an incredible competitor who deserves a proper send-off for his final bout. The UFC may find this fight is an appropriate decision for the UFC legend, as neither he nor Diaz would have much to lose should they be defeated. Only time will tell if they receive that opportunity.