Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos was almost left without an opponent at UFC 272. After Rafael Fiziev was forced to leave the card due to COVID-19, many athletes stepped up to take the short-notice spot. Once it was all said and one, fellow Brazilian Renato Moicano became the official replacement.
However, rising contender Islam Makhachev was one of the most vocal lightweights to throw his name into the conversation, which made Rafael believe a fight against the Russian was a real possibility.
Soon after, though, negotiations fell through and the UFC president Dana White announced that Makhachev had declined the offer.