Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos has decided to move up to the welterweight division.
Dos Anjos (25-9), who lost the 155-pound title in July and is currently on a two-fight skid, made the announcement via social media on Friday.
"I reached the top of [lightweight]," dos Anjos wrote on Twitter, adding that making weight at 155 pounds has been "a hard journey."
"Now I want to fight at my best, I have new goals, I'm moving to [welterweight]."
Dos Anjos, 32, enjoyed a breakout year in 2015. He claimed the UFC championship in a dominant five-round performance against Anthony Pettis at UFC 185. He went on to defend the title in a first-round knockout over Donald Cerrone in December 2015.
It was a different story in 2016. Dos Anjos was originally scheduled to fight Irish superstar Conor McGregor in March, but was forced to pull out with a foot injury. He eventually fought Eddie Alvarez in July and lost via first-round TKO. He then suffered a five-round decision loss to Tony Ferguson in November.
Before the Ferguson fight, dos Anjos also left his former training camp at Kings MMA in Southern California.
Dos Anjos has not yet announced when his UFC welterweight debut will take place. ESPN.com ranks dos Anjos as the No. 5 lightweight in the world.
