Rafael dos Anjos books a return after nearly two years, set to face Alexander Hernandez at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is returning to competition after almost two years away from fighting, and he has a specific opponent and date attached to the comeback. Dos Anjos is booked for UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he will meet Alexander Hernandez in a lightweight matchup, according to reporting from Yahoo Sports.

The layoff is largely tied to health issues. Dos Anjos had been inactive for “almost two years,” with the delay attributed mostly to injuries, leaving his next appearance as a key marker of whether he can regain traction in a division that has moved quickly during his absence.

For Dos Anjos, the timing matters. The lightweight division has long prized pace, wrestling pressure, and efficient striking over long stretches, and a returning former champion typically enters with a reputation for craft and composure rather than relying on raw athletic snap. After time off, the central question usually becomes continuity, how quickly he can find rhythm against an opponent who has been active and building momentum inside the weight class.

Hernandez, meanwhile, takes on a former titleholder rather than a stepping-stone opponent. That matters for the kind of position a fighter can reach next. A win over a recognized champion figure in the division can shift a contender conversation from short-term ranking movement to longer-term title-picture consideration.

UFC 332’s main story line is no longer just about event weekend novelty or a single stylistic clash. It is also about the promotion’s decision to place an experienced former champion back on the slate, indicating that Dos Anjos still carries weight with matchmakers and audiences even after a prolonged absence.

Still, the matchup carries built-in caveats common to returns. When fighters stay away for extended periods, training camp plans, injury-management routines, and in-cage timing all become variables. Dos Anjos’s ability to adapt his game early, and Hernandez’s ability to test him with sustained pressure or grappling look-ups, are likely to shape how the fight unfolds.

What to watch next is straightforward. First, whether the bout stays intact as fight-week approaches, particularly given the history of injuries mentioned in the reporting. Second, Hernandez’s approach, whether he dictates the tempo from the opening exchanges or waits to counter as Dos Anjos finds his feet. Finally, Dos Anjos’s first-round effectiveness could determine whether he is looking at a controlled comeback or a high-variance return that tests his durability and timing.