Second-ranked Gilbert Melendez tried to contain the sensational striking chops of Anthony Pettis with bell-to-bell pressure in their lightweight title tilt at UFC 181 on Saturday.
Unfortunately for El Nino, his pressure-at-all-cost approach landed him in a precarious position in the second round, which ended with him tapping out for the first time in his career.
He may have been slightly impressed with Pettis‘ performance, but the way top-ranked Khabib Nurmagomedov sees it, he won’t have the same issues with the champion
During an interview this week with Sherdog.com, Nurmagomedov talked about what makes him a threat to Pettis‘ throne:
My wrestling is [on a] different level. Gilbert Melendez is a very experienced guy, good boxing, good heart, good chin. A lot of respect for Gilbert Melendez, but if I have fight versus Anthony Pettis, I think I pressure him, hard punch, go takedown [and] top control. I think he no like this. You see Gilbert Melendez take him down and pressure him, but if Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Anthony Pettis fight, I think l am dominating. He have only [a] lucky punch knockout. His kicks are very good, his boxing is not bad, it’s okay, he’s a striking guy, I like this. If you have [a] striking opponent, you need to pressure it.
When asked if he thought Melendez had devised a proper game plan, which he simply didn’t execute against Pettis, Nurmagomedov answered with the following:
No, no. I [don’t] think this. I think he try, try, try takedown. He tired. But he need [to] catch his leg [and] takedown. It’s very easy. Catch his leg, takedown, top control. Catch his leg, takedown, top control.
Nurmagomedov, who tore his right meniscus in July, said he’ll be ready to fight in the spring and that he’d prefer to fight Showtime for the belt in his first bout back.
That is, unless Pettis takes another 15-month layoff.
Pettis, in the meantime, threw water on the notion that an apparent injury to his left hand suffered in the Melendez fight will sideline him for any significant stretch of time via Twitter on Monday.
My hand is fine!
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) December 9, 2014
Nurmagomedov has racked up a 22-0 record with seven knockouts and eight submissions since turning pro in 2008.
A 26-year-old Russian grappling specialist, Nurmagomedov has amassed a 6-0 mark in the UFC with one submission and one TKO.
Pettis (18-2) improved to 5-1 in the UFC and 10-2 under the Zuffa banner. He has finished each of his last four fights, with his last two wins coming via submission in lightweight title fights.
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