When someone does what Anthony Pettis did to Donald Cerrone on Saturday night, that someone deserves an opportunity to prove he is the best in the world.
In case you happened to miss what Pettis did the Cowboy during UFC on Fox 6, here’s a look at the highly anticipated fight and quick finish:
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you embarrass an opponent.
Not only did Showtime make work of Cerrone in short order with a kick to the liver that everyone in attendance probably felt themselves, but he dominated the rest of the fight from start to finish.
Pettis connected on a slew of early punches and just barely missed with an Earth-shattering kick in the fight’s first minute. Meanwhile, Cerrone, who was coming off the Knockout of the Night against Melvin Guillard back in August, was rendered completely useless, as he failed to make even a blemish on Showtime’s face.
Joseph Benavidez, who knows fighting pretty well himself, summed up the fight perfectly:
Wow! @showtimepettis ! Congrats, that was one of the most impressive performances I can remember from anyone…ever!Inspiring!!
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) January 27, 2013
Essentially, if the fight was Mortal Kombat, it would have been a flawless victory—along with a massively entertaining “finish him”—for Showtime.
That now marks two Knockouts of the Night in just over three total minutes of fighting for the 26-year-old in his last two contests.
The best way to award him?
A title shot.
Rightly so, it didn’t take long for UFC President Dana White to give Pettis just that (via UFC Tonight on Twitter):
#Breaking: @danawhite says “no doubt about it” @showtimepettis will face the winner of @bensonhenderson vs. @gilbertmelendez for the title!
— UFC Tonight (@UFCTonight) January 27, 2013
Pettis, who became the first fighter to knock out Cerrone, has already beaten Henderson, the current UFC Lightweight Champion, before. Back in December of 2010, the two went to decision at WEC 53 where Showtime was crowned with a unanimous victory.
Still, though, both fighters are much improved since that fight and if we are indeed given a rematch—”Smooth” will be a favorite against Gilbert Melendez in April—it will undoubtedly be a must-see battle.
And after Saturday’s dominant performance by Pettis, a truly deserved matchup, too.
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