Rafael dos Anjos walked out of UFC 185 with the lightweight title around his waist. He defeated a man who was in the process of emerging as a future star within the sport. Not only did he snatch the belt from around Pettis’ waist, but he also denied the UFC a chance to develop another cross over star. The organization was banking on pushing “Showtime” to the masses, and dos Anjos completely ruined that moment.
For five rounds, dos Anjos dominated Pettis in a way that was widely unexpected. Many MMA media experts were picking Pettis to win the fight. Those that didn’t immediately took to Twitter to illicit their excitement in picking the underdog in this fight.
That excitement for being “right” shows how important Pettis was becoming leading into the UFC 185 main event. In December, MMA Fighting chronicled the fact that Pettis is the first MMA athlete to be featured on a Wheaties box. With the highlight reel finishes that Pettis was amassing, it was clear to many people that he was growing into a star that could cross over to other aspects of the entertainment world.
Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports recently wrote a piece about ‘Showtime’ and his growth that brought out an interesting reference to thoughts from UFC President Dana White.
“UFC President Dana White said he believes Pettis is the most talented fighter in the sport,” Iole wrote. “If White has anything to say about it, Pettis will soon become a household name.”
Unfortunately for White’s prediction, Rafael dos Anjos used his time in the limelight to ruin that moment. The win came in such a way that will surely slow any rise to fame that Pettis was expected to enjoy.
This doesn’t mean that Pettis cannot rebuild himself into a superstar in the sport. The 28-year old fighter still boasts an 18-3 record and should be considered one of the best lightweights in the sport. Injuries have hampered much of his career, but he knows that staying active can remove that perception.
“Basically, I have to go out there every couple of months and keep fighting the top guys and winning the fights the way I have been and you’ll see my star power go up,” Pettis said in Iole’s Yahoo Sports piece.
It will be interesting to see what happens next now that ‘Showtime’ is no longer the champion. There are a number of viable fights for him within the lightweight division. If he can dispatch of multiple foes while adding to his list of spectacular finishes, the UFC will find a way to market him into a star. Still, Rafael dos Anjos completely derailed his momentum. Pettis may have the look and style to become a crossover star for mixed martial arts, but fans, the promotion and the fighter alike will have to wait for that moment to occur.
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