Fresh off a disappointing unanimous decision loss to Eddie Alvarez less than one month ago at UFC Fight Night 81, Anthony Pettis requested a “real fight as soon as possible.“
Wish granted.
The former Lightweight champion — and No. 3-ranked 155-pound fighter on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster — will lock horns with super dangerous Brazilian striker, Edson Barboza, at UFC 197 inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 23, 2016.
“UFC Tonight” reported the excellent pay-per-view (PPV) main card match earlier this evening on FOX Sports 1.
Pettis is, oddly, in the midst of a two-fight losing skid, which began when he dropped his world title to Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 185 in March 2015. “Showtime” has actually not won a fight inside the Octagon since Dec. 2014 (Gilbert Melendez), battling injuries and inactivity in addition to the best fighters in the world.
Barboza, meanwhile, has lost two of his last three bouts, succumbing to a wicked Tony Ferguson brabo choke at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 22 Finale in Dec. 2015 and the dominant wrestling prowess of Michael Johnson at UFC Fight Night 61 in Feb. 2015. The No. 8-ranked Lightweight fighter outslugged Paul Felder to win an entertaining unanimous decision at UFC on FOX 16 in July 2015.
Talk about great match-making.
UFC 197 features a Light Heavyweight championship rematch between reigning kingpin, Daniel Cormier, against the man who never officially lost his 205-pound belt, Jon Jones. In the co-main event, UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson will look to defend his world title once more at the expense of gold medal-winning United States Olympic wrestler (2008), Henry Cejudo.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 197: “Cormier vs. Jones 2” fight card and rumors click here.