Anthony Pettis’ loss to Eddie Alvarez last Sunday, debatable though it was, represented a significant setback for the former UFC Lightweight Champion, and he’s hoping to rebound quick.
According to a report from Fox Sports 1’s UFC Tonight program on Wednesday night, a “fired up” Pettis is unhappy with his UFC Fight Night 81 performance, and is asking to get back into the cage as soon as possible. Additionally, though making no call outs, Nate Diaz specifically was named as a potentially targeted opponent.
Pettis lost the UFC Lightweight Title to Rafael dos Anjos last March, and though he scored more offense than Alvarez last weekend, he allowed himself to get taken down multiple times, which led to a close decision going against him.
Penick’s Analysis: Pettis-Nate Diaz is the fight to make right now, even with Pettis coming off of two losses. It’s a marketable matchup and would see both of them in their style of fight. Pettis desperately needs a win to get back on a track towards that title, and a fight soon against Diaz is the right type of matchup to get him there. Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov may be the other top lightweight matchup to make, though with Eddie Alvarez plugging himself into that mix, the UFC may give Alvarez the Nurmagomedov fight. Right now, for Pettis to have any hope of one day regaining that title, he’s going to need to get a significant victory as soon as possible.
[Photo (c) Joe Camporeale via USA Today Sports]
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