Anthony Pettis can’t win the interim featherweight title when he faces Max Holloway at UFC 206 in Toronto on Saturday after the former missed weight during Friday’s weigh-in.
Pettis came up three pounds in excess of the required weight of 145 pounds, per ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. The news has taken the lustre out of what was an already amended main event after UFC officials had to cancel the light heavyweight title clash between Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson because of the former’s injury issues.
Fighting at 145 is something of a rarity for Pettis. In fact, this would have been only his second bout at the weight, following at hat-trick of defeats at 155, according to Brandon Wise of CBS Sports.
This naturally rates as one more setback in a suddenly waning career for the 29-year-old.
Pettis attempted to explain what happened and ultimately justified the decision to accept his reduced weight, per Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting:
It was a team call. My body just wouldn’t let go of that extra weight. It’s just one those things. We did everything right beforehand, everything was on point. My body just gave out. I had nothing left to give.
In the end, we decided that my career and health are more important than those two extra pounds.
Pettis also cited health concerns, including hydration issues and acid reflux. Whatever the cause, Pettis will now forfeit 20 per cent of the purse along with the chance to claim an interim belt, according to Helwani.
Yet while he rued the missed weight, Pettis still kept his focus on Holloway, insisting his goal for the fight hasn’t changed, per Helwani: “I’m not here for the interim belt. Originally, this fight wasn’t for the belt. The plan has always been to just beat Max Holloway. And he’s not beating me tomorrow night.”
As for Holloway, he was left unimpressed by Pettis‘ failure to make weight, a feeling he made clear on his official Twitter account:
The 25-year-old even attempted to be philosophical about something that’s undermined his showpiece fight:
Holloway also saved some smack talk for Pettis, indicating he’s still keen and ready for an intense battle, per Brian Butler from Sucker Punch Entertainment:
UFC president Dana White attempted to downplay the incident but offered this troubling assessment of Pettis‘ current career standing, according to MMA Fighting: “He came in, when he landed here in Toronto, he was 10 pounds (over), so he should’ve made the weight. What that tells you is he’s too old and he’s too big to make that weight, is my opinion. So we’ll see where we go from here.”
White’s frustration is obvious and understandable, although he should still count on a decent bout. After all, both fighters enter the event with deserved reputations as “solid strikers,” according to ESPN’s Richard Mann.
Mann gives the edge to Holloway, who is never shy about throwing punches in flurries: “In his UFC career, he has landed 5.61 significant strikes per minute. That’s more than double Pettis‘ rate of 2.54.”
Pettis‘ issues with the weight may dim anticipation for the fight slightly, but there’s still plenty to be gained for Holloway. Specifically, he can claim ownership of the interim belt and a fight with outright UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo.
Pettis needs a strong fight to lift his flagging reputation, although it remains to be seen whether he will be handed a shot at Aldo if he does emerge victorious. He lost momentum at lightweight and now hasn’t made the weight for this class.
However, both fighters are more than capable of putting on a spectacle in what is likely going to be a contender for Fight of the Night, despite Pettis‘ issues.
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