Rafael dos Anjos Out 3 Months with Torn MCL; Surgery Not Required

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While Rafael dos Anjos was correct in assuming that the torn MCL he suffered in training prior to UFC 185 will not require surgery, the rehabilitation process will keep the newly-crowned lightweight champion on the shelf for an extended period of time.

Dos Anjos’ manager, Ali Abdel-Aziz, informed UFC Tonight on Wednesday that the injury will require approximately three months of rehab and recovery.

Dos Anjos said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference that he felt a pop in his knee during sparring a few weeks before UFC 185. Although the ailment limited him for the latter part of his camp, it didn’t seem to affect his performance in the Octagon, as he captured a lopsided unanimous decision against Anthony Pettis at the American Airlines Center in Dallas this past Saturday night.

In addition to the partially torn MCL, Abdel-Aziz revealed that dos Anjos also suffered an injury to his nose in camp which will require surgery. The champion is unable to breathe out of his right nostril and can only use about 70 percent of his left.

Dos Anjos is expected to defend his title against the winner of the UFC 187 showdown between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Donald Cerrone on May 23.