Rafael dos Anjos set to return against Alexander Hernandez at UFC 332

Rafael dos Anjos is scheduled to make his return to the Octagon after a lengthy absence, and ESPN Brasil and other outlets have now converged on the same pairing: Dos Anjos vs. Alexander Hernandez at UFC 332. The fight is reported to take place on Oct. 3 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, and the event is expected to stream on Paramount+.

According to Yahoo Sports, the matchup was confirmed to MMA Junkie by a person with knowledge of the situation who asked not to be identified, with the added caveat that the UFC has not yet published an official announcement. That matters because UFC schedules and fight cards sometimes shift between early reporting and final confirmation, including late opponent changes and bout order adjustments.

Dos Anjos, a former lightweight champion and one of the more enduring names in the sport’s modern era, is returning from what was described as a two-year-long layoff. In practical terms, a return after that span places a premium on readjusting to fight-week intensity, timing at full pace, and the physical and mental sharpness required for five-round-level stakes if the fight goes deep.

For Hernandez, the booking provides a clean runway into a headline-caliber opponent with strong credibility in the division’s historical mix. Even without additional card context, the Dos Anjos name indicates that the UFC is looking at Hernandez as more than a placeholder bout. In a sport where momentum can swing quickly, the opportunity to face an established veteran tends to function as both a test and a showcase.

The UFC 332 setting in Salt Lake City at Delta Center gives the matchup a mainstream-market profile for U.S. fans and a notable international footprint through streaming. With the event date already identified in early reporting, fighters and managers typically start shaping training cycles around the confirmed date and venue, but final preparation can remain fluid until the promotion posts the official bout announcement.

What to watch next is straightforward. The first priority is confirmation from UFC communications, including whether the fight becomes official and whether it appears on the card as a featured bout. The second is how Dos Anjos’ return is framed stylistically. After a long break, fighters often adjust their approach based on cardio expectations, takedown entries, and striking rhythm, and the way Hernandez approaches him can reveal whether the matchup is being contested as a technical grinder or a more direct pace battle.

Until the UFC makes its own publication, this remains a reported booking rather than an officially finalized match. Still, the convergence of multiple media reports on the same date, venue, and opponent pairing suggests UFC 332 could deliver one of its more compelling storylines once the promotion locks the card.