Rafael Dos Anjos Has My Respect No Matter What Happens with Clay Guida

Let me just say that the first time I ever heard or saw the name Rafael Dos Anjos was when UFC 103 happened to make its way into Dallas.

Dos Anjos had gotten a decision win, but I hadn't seen but the last few seconds of the fight so it was really difficult to become a fan when I hadn't seen Dos Anjos enough to say, "Damn, this guy's good."

Fast forward to UFC 112, whehn I have Terry Etim beating Rafael, and Rafael beats him —in round two, he cranks an armbar and Etim taps out for the first time in his career.

I finally think I should be impressed with this guy, but then I get to hear that he's facing Clay Guida at UFC 117, and with Diego Sanchez at welterweight, that makes Guida my favorite lightweight other than BJ Penn.

Then, everyone—including Clay Guida —found out sometime that Dos Anjos had come down with an illness.

Guida even tweeted, hoping that Dos Anjos would still be ready to go when the two face in Oakland just two weeks from tomorrow night.

That shows me a lot of class from Guida, and it reminds me why it's tough to not respect the man even though he may not be your favorite person to watch.

The fact that Dos Anjos is not backing out from this fight despite an illness that may slow him down shows me a lot of heart.

I mean, do any of us know what the illness is or how serious it is?

If Dos Anjos is willing to still fight, then maybe he feels that the illness won't hinder him much if at all.

Win or lose, I have to say that for the first time in really ever, I got respect for a man willing to fight through some hindrance just to stay on a card.

I usually don't like it when some fighters do it becuse when they lose, people can use that injury or illness as an excuse, but things have changes.

Fighters have suffered through injuries and illnesses and some have won fights in the Octagon despite all the injuries and pleas to reschedule.

Frank Mir could have backed out of the fight with Brandon Vera, Rich Franklin could have asked the ref to stop the fight once Chuck Liddell injured his arm, and Tito Ortiz could have saved his second go-around with Forrest Griffin for another time if he knew his back and neck were going to give him a bit of trouble.

The fact that neither of the aforementioned names did so showed that they were fighters who would rather fight through an ailment and come up short than take more time away from the cage than what they needed.

Now Rafael Dos Anjos is one of those guys.

He could have tweeted Guida or Dana White in response, asking to back out of the fight, and then he could have come back at a different time at 100 percent.

Rafael didn't—he knew that the fans in Oakland were supposed to see Guida Vs. Dos Anjos on the main card, and he chose to let the fans see it as promoted when the two could have met up at a later point in time.

It doesn't matter if Guida beats Dos Anjos or if Dos Anjos beats Guida.

Clay still wants to fight Dos Anjos, and Dos Anjos isn't backing out even though it would be justifiable that he would.

No matter what happens, I have a newfound respect for Rafael Dos Anjos.

Now nothing is left to say, except "may the best man win in Oakland."