Luckily for the UFC, Anthony Pettis‘ knee injury is a minor one.
Pettis suffered a grade II PCL sprain and LCL strain in his left knee during his title-winning performance over former lightweight champion Benson Henderson at UFC 164. Pettis won’t require surgery and is expected to be sidelined for seven to eight weeks.
UFC President Dana White announced the news on Tuesday night’s edition of SportsCenter.
“Henderson threw a kick and I went to check with my left leg, and he hit like right in the crook in the knee,” Pettis said during UFC 164’s post-fight press conference. “I felt it go back and forth and I stepped on it, it was hurting a lit bit, when he had me against the cage I was going to put my leg down because it was starting to lock up.”
Pettis is expected make the first defense of his title against TJ Grant at an undecided date and location. Grant is currently recovering from a concussion and isn’t expected to be available until late-December.
Nonetheless, if Pettis defeats Grant, a superfight against UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo “will probably” to be next, according to White, who also added that former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez is back “in the mix” for another shot at the title.