Injury almost derailed Rafael dos Anjos title bid

Newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos appeared to be the at the top of his game as he dismantled Anthony Pettis to take the belt in the main event of UFC 185 on Saturday night in Dallas.

The performance was all the more impressive when considering the Brazilian nearly decided to withdraw from the fight because of a knee injury.

“I was really close (to pulling out of the fight),” he said on the Fox Sports 1 post-fight show. “I couldn’t grapple, I couldn’t kick. I don’t know if you guys noticed at the open workouts I didn’t use my kicks. I was just boxing and grappling a little bit, but I was trying to avoid the kicks.

“My right knee hurt bad three weeks ago and I almost pulled out of the fight, but I didn’t know if I would have this chance again soon, so I took the chance and here I am, I got my title.”

Despite the injury, dos Anjos left little doubt about the outcome by winning all five rounds on all three scorecards against Pettis.

Dos Anjos said he was never officially diagnosed, but believes the injury was to the right MCL. He will have it evaluated now that the fight is over before determining a timetable for his first title defense.

When he does return, dos Anjos will likely fight the winner of a May fight between Donald Cerrone and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Dos Anjos has faced both fighters, winning a unanimous decision over Cerrone in August 2013.

The fight with Nurmagomedov didn’t go as well. Nurmagomedov handed dos Anjos his only defeat over his last 10 fights by unanimous decision in April 2014. He has not fought since due to a knee injury he suffered in training.

JEDRZEJCZYK EXPECTED VICTORY — New UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk never felt like an underdog entering her bout with former champ Carla Esparza on Saturday at UFC 185.

“I am a confident person. I said that I was going to do this, that I was going to be a new champion, and I did it, you know?” Jedrzejczyk said at the post-fight news conference. “I’m here, and I’ve got my baby.

“I was always believing in myself, and that’s why I’m here.”

Jedrzejczyk showcased outstanding takedown defense to go along with her known striking skills to take the belt. Her ability to keep the fight standing, combined with her massive striking advantage, made the title fight quite one-sided.

Jedrzejczyk said he will return to Poland to celebrate her victory and show off her new belt. She will also await a challenger to emerge.

One thing she will not do is jump right back into a training camp in an effort to defend the title next month.

UFC president Dana White said Jedrzeczyk will not appear on the the April 11 card in Krakow.

She does hope to fight in her native country at some point, however.

“Of course, in the future, I’d like to fight in Poland,” she said. “I’m happy that the UFC will be in Poland. It’s a pretty big deal.”

OVEREEM DOUBTS LESNAR WILL RETURN — The last man to fight Brock Lesnar in the UFC doesn’t believe the WWE superstar will return to real fighting anytime soon.

Lesnar, now 37, left the UFC to return to professional wrestling not long after Overeem knocked him out in the first round of a fight at MGM Grand in December 2011.

There has been quite a bit of recent speculation that he is considering a return to the octagon.

Overeem doesn’t buy it.

“To be honest, he is not going to come back. He remembers in the beginning it was easy, but at the end it was very hard for him,” Overeem said last week before defeating Roy Nelson at UFC 185. “He is a guy that kind of goes where it’s easy. He’s not going to come back. It’s too hard. The competition is too stiff.”

TUF 22 TRYOUTS — The UFC will hold tryouts for the upcoming season of “The Ultimate Fighter” on April 27 at Palace Station.

Tryouts will be limited to lightweight and welterweight male fighters between the ages of 21 and 34.

Interested contestants must also have a minimum of three professional fights with a documented winning record.

The event begins at 8 a.m. inside the Grand Ballroom.

SAN DIEGO EVENT SET — The UFC will return to San Diego for the first time in nearly five years when it hosts an event at Valley View Casino Center on July 15.

UFC on Versus 2 featured a first-round victory by Jon Jones over Vladimir Matyushenko on August 10 the last time the UFC visited the arena.

The organization also announced UFC 192 will take place in Houston on Oct. 3 and UFC Fight Night 75 is scheduled for Nashville on Aug. 8.

No fights have been announced for any of the events.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.