Rafael dos Anjos will defend his UFC lightweight title this July as opponent is finally announced

Rafael dos Anjos is fighting on international fight week but will not be a part of the momentous UFC 200 card.

The reigning UFC lightweight champion will look to defend his 155 lb strap for the second time when he takes on number 1 ranked Eddie Alvarez in the headliner of a UFC Fight Pass card on July 7. Dos Anjos had made no secret about the fact that he wanted to compete at UFC 200 but, instead, will fight two days earlier in the MGM Grand Garden Arena. https://twitter.com/UFCFightPass/status/721000134557839360 The bout will be the first time that dos Anjos has competed this year, having last defended his title in December at UFC on Fox 17 against Donald Cerrone when he stopped 'Cowboy' in just over a minute. Dos Anjos had been scheduled to face Conor McGregor in the main event of UFC 196 last month but the Brazilian was forced to pull out of the fight on short notice after breaking his foot while sparring. He gets back in there against hard-nosed wrestler and former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez on the Thursday of the biggest week in UFC history. Alvarez last fought in mid-January when he outwrestled and outworked former 155 lb king Anthony Pettis en route to a unanimous decision. He's gone 2-0 since losing his UFC debut against Donald Cerrone but his showings against Pettis and Gilbert Melendez, two of the best lightweights in the world, earned the Philadelphia fighter his first shot at UFC gold this summer. The addition of a lightweight title fight means that there will now be at least three undisputed titles, and one interim one, decided over three days in a must-attend week in Las Vegas.