Rafael dos Anjos Set To Return vs. Alexander Hernandez at UFC 332

Rafael dos Anjos will fight Alexander Hernandez in a welterweight bout at UFC 332 on Oct. 3 in Salt Lake City, marking the former lightweight champion's return from a torn ACL.

The Delta Center card gives dos Anjos (32-17) his first walk to the cage since UFC 308, where he lost by technical knockout just 90 seconds into his fight after a knee injury buckled him. He was later diagnosed with a torn ACL, the kind of injury that ends careers or at minimum forces a long, uncertain layaway. Instead, at 41, dos Anjos is back on the schedule against Hernandez (18-9), a fight that also happens to be the 50th professional bout of his career.

Why This Fight Matters for Dos Anjos

Dos Anjos is trying to snap a three-fight losing streak that has piled up fast. Before the injury knockout loss, he dropped decisions to Mateusz Gamrot and Vicente Luque, meaning he hasn't had his hand raised since 2023. A former UFC lightweight champion with a résumé that includes wins over the division's best over the last decade, dos Anjos now finds himself fighting for relevance in a stacked welterweight division rather than title contention. A 50th professional fight at 41 years old, coming off major knee surgery, is the kind of number that invites questions about how much is left in the tank. This booking is really a referendum on whether he still belongs in the mix at 170 pounds.

Hernandez brings his own version of momentum trouble. He is 10-8 in the UFC and lost a unanimous decision to Rafa Garcia this past April, which snapped a four-fight winning streak that included knockouts over Diego Ferreira and Chase Hooper. That streak had made Hernandez look like a legitimate gatekeeper with pop in his hands. The Garcia loss knocked some shine off that run, and now he needs a bounce-back win of his own against a name opponent.

Betting Angle

This fight sets up as a classic crossroads matchup, and the market will likely treat it that way. Dos Anjos has the pedigree and the granular technical edge, but the ACL tear and the ring rust are real variables that sportsbooks will bake into the number. Hernandez has the physical tools and finishing ability to capitalize early if dos Anjos looks rusty off a long layoff, and his recent knockouts show he can hurt people who stand and trade with him. Bettors will want to track how dos Anjos looks in fight week workouts and media appearances for any sign of lingering knee issues before backing him as a short favorite, and live-underdog value on Hernandez could be worth watching if the line opens with dos Anjos heavily favored on name recognition alone.

UFC 332 does not yet have an announced main event, but the dos Anjos-Hernandez pairing already gives the card a compelling veteran-versus-hungry-contender storyline heading into fight week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Rafael dos Anjos fighting at UFC 332?

Rafael dos Anjos is fighting Alexander Hernandez in a welterweight bout at UFC 332 on Oct. 3 in Salt Lake City.

Why has Rafael dos Anjos been out of action?

Rafael dos Anjos has not fought since UFC 308 in October 2024, when he suffered a technical knockout loss just 90 seconds in after a knee injury that was later diagnosed as a torn ACL.

What is Alexander Hernandez's recent record?

Alexander Hernandez is 18-9 overall and 10-8 in the UFC, most recently losing a unanimous decision to Rafa Garcia in April 2026 after a four-fight winning streak.