Leon Edwards vs Rafael Dos Anjos — Fight recap

Leon Edwards defeated Rafael Dos Anjos by unanimous decision over five rounds on July 20, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 191 in São Paulo. Edwards controlled the bout through superior wrestling and cage control, landing 92 significant strikes at 42% accuracy while securing three takedowns and accumulating 7:17 of control time.

Dos Anjos countered with 81 significant strikes at a superior 47% clip and landed all six leg kicks, but failed to convert any of his five takedown attempts, managing only 2:23 of control. The decisive factor was Edwards' ability to mix striking with grappling, particularly his head strikes (72 of 189) that kept Dos Anjos on the back foot throughout.

All three judges favored Edwards, who demonstrated the wrestling-heavy approach that would become his signature. The victory positioned Edwards as a rising contender in the welterweight division and suggested he could compete with elite-level opposition.