Anthony Pettis Will Face TJ Grant When He Returns From Rehabbing Knee Sprain


(Anthony’s a generous guy. He actually left behind that WEC belt as a tip. / Photo via instagram.com/showtimepettis)

New UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis won’t be chasing a superfight against Jose Aldo just yet. As first reported by Kevin Iole, Pettis’s next fight will be a title-defense against TJ Grant, at an event to be named later.

Grant, who has won his last five fights in the Octagon, was slated to challenge Benson Henderson for the lightweight title at UFC 164, but was replaced by Pettis after he suffered a concussion in training. And now, Grant is coming to collect on the title shot he was originally promised, and then not promised, and is now being promised again, I guess.

As for when this lightweight title fight will take place, it partially depends on the condition of Pettis’s knee. “Showtime” suffered a moderate knee sprain while checking a kick from Bendo during their fight last Saturday, and will be sidelined for 7-8 weeks to rehab it. Luckily, the injury won’t require surgery, and it’s likely that we’ll see him back in action early next year.


(Anthony’s a generous guy. He actually left behind that WEC belt as a tip. / Photo via instagram.com/showtimepettis)

New UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis won’t be chasing a superfight against Jose Aldo just yet. As first reported by Kevin Iole, Pettis’s next fight will be a title-defense against TJ Grant, at an event to be named later.

Grant, who has won his last five fights in the Octagon, was slated to challenge Benson Henderson for the lightweight title at UFC 164, but was replaced by Pettis after he suffered a concussion in training. And now, Grant is coming to collect on the title shot he was originally promised, and then not promised, and is now being promised again, I guess.

As for when this lightweight title fight will take place, it partially depends on the condition of Pettis’s knee. “Showtime” suffered a moderate knee sprain while checking a kick from Bendo during their fight last Saturday, and will be sidelined for 7-8 weeks to rehab it. Luckily, the injury won’t require surgery, and it’s likely that we’ll see him back in action early next year.