Anthony Pettis says he was in the running for a UFC 196 bout with Conor McGregor, but the opponent decision was Conor’s and he figured he wouldn’t get picked.
Like a few others, Anthony Pettis seemed to be in the running for a headlining spot at UFC 196. When Rafael dos Anjos went down with an injury and Conor McGregor needed an opponent, the UFC reached out to guys like Jose Aldo, Frankie Edgar, Urijah Faber, and more. Another one of them was former lightweight champion Pettis. He said on The MMA Hour that he was in the running, but because of who was making the final call, wasn’t likely to get the fight (transcribed by MMA Mania):
“I spoke to Dana, Joe Silva, but it was all up to him (McGregor). They said RDA pulled out and they are not going to make him fight anybody, they are going to let him choose who he wants to fight. I figured he wouldn’t pick me. So, I was a little excited about it, but, there was easier opponents and easier guys for him to fight.”
Pettis believes that Diaz, who he has traded verbal jabs with in the past, isn’t an easy fight, but that himself and Donald Cerrone would have been tougher matchups:
“Diaz is a tough fight at 170. Going from 45 to 170, that’s a huge jump right there. I mean, top 10 lightweights, no one is easy, but there are quicker routes and easier ways for him to move. I wouldn’t say it’s an easy fight for him, but, as far as fighting me or Cowboy who just came off a camp, Diaz was just sitting there for the picking.”
Pettis is currently scheduled to meet Edson Barboza at UFC 197 on April 23rd. McGregor and Diaz will face off on March 5th in Vegas.