Since both Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard sustained injuries, ultimately forcing them off of UFC 130, UFC lightweight Anthony “Showtime” Pettis finds himself in limbo.
While promised a title shot at the winner of their second encounter, Pettis was focused, and in fact sat cage-side to get a better perspective on Edgar and Maynard at UFC 125. Unfortunately for him, the result ended in a draw.
And now that another setback has hit the former WEC lightweight champion and he said it not only messes up his plans but the lightweight division as well.
“It kinda sucks,” Pettis said in an interview with Heavy.com.
“It kinda puts the whole lightweight (division) on a stand. I was in line for a title shot after Clay Guida, I mean I’m definitely focused on Guida, but the whole lightweight division is just kinda stuck right now.”
And for the next little while, the division will have to remain patient as challengers, like Pettis, will have to watch Maynard and Edgar battle for a third time at some point later this year.
And although a lightweight title will have to take a little longer for Pettis to earn, he hasn’t ruled out another bout after Guida in order to prepare himself for either competitor.
“I haven’t looked past Clay yet. I guess after Clay we’ll figure out what’s gonna happen, but I mean, potentially that’s definitely possibility,” he said.
And after Maynard recently expressed his disinterest in Pettis, a bout between the two lightweights could happen some time in the future. Maynard said in a recent interview that he wasn’t impressed with Pettis’ style or the competitors he fought in the WEC, in response Pettis said Maynard is just envious towards him.
“I feel that he might be a little jealous of my level of success so fast, I am probably the most popular UFC fighter that hasn’t fought in the UFC yet,” Pettis said.
Pettis will compete against Clay Guida at The Ultimate Finale 13 on June 4, live from from Las Vegas Nevada.
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