Alexander Hernandez Stops Rafael dos Anjos in Second Round at UFC 332
Alexander Hernandez stopped former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos by TKO in the second round at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City.
Alexander Hernandez put a definitive end to Rafael dos Anjos' return at UFC 332. Hernandez stopped the former UFC lightweight champion with a second-round TKO at 3:12 in Salt Lake City on Saturday night, per Yahoo Sports.
Dos Anjos, 41, controlled the early going, stalking Hernandez with pressure and finding his range in the first round. But Hernandez flipped the script in the second, catching dos Anjos with shots that put the veteran on the canvas twice before the referee waved it off.
The loss extended dos Anjos' skid to four straight defeats. The former champion had not competed since suffering a knee injury against Geoff Neal in 2024, making this a two-year layoff heading into the fight. After the stoppage, dos Anjos removed his gloves in the Octagon, a traditional signal of retirement, though he did not make a formal announcement.
If this was the final chapter for RDA, it ends a career that saw him capture the UFC lightweight title in 2015 and compete at the highest level across two weight classes for over a decade. Dos Anjos fought the best of his era: Anthony Pettis, Eddie Alvarez, Colby Covington, Leon Edwards, Rafael Fiziev, and many more.
Hernandez, 34, improves to 4-1 in his last five fights after bouncing back from an April loss to Rafa Garcia. The Texan has rebuilt his career quietly, and a finish over a former champion, even one past his prime, adds a notable name to his resume.
The lightweight division continues to turn over as its veterans age out. Dos Anjos was one of the last active fighters from the generation that bridged the BJ Penn and Khabib Nurmagomedov eras. Saturday's result was a reminder that the sport rarely lets you pick your exit.
Tough night for RDA fans. I have covered this sport long enough to know what removing the gloves means, and even if dos Anjos did not say the words, we all saw it. The guy was a champion, a two-division contender, and one of the toughest fighters to ever lace them up. That career deserves respect regardless of how it ended.
But credit to Hernandez. He read the fight perfectly, survived a slow first round, and then pounced when he saw dos Anjos slowing down. Two knockdowns in the second round against a guy known for his toughness tells you Hernandez was sitting on his punches and picking his spots.
At 34, Hernandez is at a weird crossroads. He is too good for the gatekeepers but probably not a title threat. Still, a finish over a former champion gives him leverage for better matchups. I would love to see him against someone like Beneil Dariush or Drew Dober next. Keep him busy in the 10-to-20 range and see if there is another level in there.
