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Pettis vs. Dos Anjos: Keys to Victory for Champion and Challenger at UFC 185

Not many people are giving Rafael dos Anjos a chance to defeat UFC lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis on Saturday at UFC 185 in Dallas, Texas. Sherdog.com’s Mike Sloan polled 26 current and former professional fighters, and only one picked …

Current bantamweight contender Urijah Faber said this:

I think Pettis is going to come away with it. Dos Anjos is looking great, but I think the dynamic style of Pettis is just going to be too much for him. In my opinion, the most creative and exciting fighter in the UFC is Pettis. He’s got a solid ground game, and he’s got those incredible kicks and pinpoint punches.

Faber’s assessment of Pettis is spot on. It’s difficult to find a weakness in the champion’s game.

He’s an explosive striker and opportunistic submission artist. He’s shown the ability to end the fight in an instance with a head kick or by submission. Because dos Anjos can’t match Pettis‘ speed, he’ll have to look for counter-punching opportunities.

These will have to come against Pettis‘ leg kicks and will be necessary for dos Anjos to have a chance to win.

Dos Anjos‘ Keys to Victory

Check and Strike

Perhaps the most effective sequence of maneuvers dos Anjos can employ against Pettis is to check and strike. Pettis usually fires leg kicks early in his fights. If dos Anjos can time them—which is much easier said than done—he might be able to check the strike and fire the right hand that dropped and finished Benson Henderson.

Even if it doesn’t land, the move could still serve as a deterrent to Pettis‘ lower-body attack.

Take It Deep

Pettis utilizes a lot of movement, which could be tiring if the fight lasts into the later rounds. Yet no one has been able to test Pettis‘ stamina. That’s something dos Anjos will want to explore. In the third, fourth and fifth rounds, there’s a chance that Pettis will slow down.

That would help to close the speed gap between the two men.

Pettis‘ Keys to Victory

Patience

According to Matt Parrino of UFC.com, Pettis hears the critics who question his mettle as a champion:

“I definitely hear and see; it’s impossible not to hear it and not to see it,” Pettis said. “People calling me injury prone and paper champion, but I just take the higher route.”

Pettis must continue to let the irrational criticism roll off his back. If he goes in looking to make a statement and abandons the game plan, he could make himself vulnerable.

Against a strong and rugged veteran like dos Anjos, Pettis must remain patient while allowing the fight to come to him.

Limit Unnecessary Risks

Part of Pettis‘ appeal is his dynamic move set. However, he can’t get caught showboating. It’s smart to mix in some unorthodox techniques to keep dos Anjos guessing, but gambles are the quickest ways to make this fight more competitive than it has to be.

If Pettis varies his attack and keeps his poise during grappling sequences, he should win by submission.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.

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Anthony Pettis vs. Rafael dos Anjos: Showtime Will Remain Dominant at UFC 185

With all due respect to Rafael dos Anjos, he won’t beat UFC lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis on Saturday night at UFC 185 in Dallas, Texas. Dos Anjos is rugged. He’s never been submitted via hold (the submission loss to Clay Guida in 2010 was because of a jaw injury). The only time he was stopped by KO or TKO was back in 2008 at the hands of Jeremy Stephens.

Dos Anjos is also a skilled grinder. He has won a wealth of fights by decision. Most recently, he’s shown some extra punching power, having stopped both Benson Henderson and Jason High by TKO.

Even with all of those qualities and accomplishments, Pettis is a little better in every facet of the game. Mike Sloan of Sherdog.com polled 26 current and former fighters about the UFC 185 main event. A whopping 25 picked Pettis to come out on top.

Former UFC fighter and current coach Matt Serra said:

I think dos Anjos is a threat, but I give it to Pettis. He’s improving. With each fight, you see different weapons. Look at the guys he’s submitted. He’s submitting guys who don’t get submitted, with Gil[bert Melendez] and with what he did with Benson [Henderson]. He’s just looking like a monster, and I think he’s going to be difficult to beat; and I don’t think dos Anjos has his number.

Pettis‘ body of work doesn’t lie. The champion is a more dynamic and explosive striker, with a 56 percent KO rate compared to just 17 for the challenger. He’s a more efficient submission artist. Pettis has won eight bouts by submission in 20 pro fights. It’s taken dos Anjos 30 bouts to reach the same number.

Pettis has also proven to be tougher to hit and he’s never been stopped.

According to FightMetric, Pettis absorbs 1.6 strikes per minute compared to 2.39 for dos Anjos. This well-roundedness is a testament to Pettis‘ hard work and mental approach. His coach, Duke Roufus, talked to Matt Parrino of UFC.com about the champion. Roufus said:

He is very cerebral in his approach to everything he does. It’s so easy to do these fight camps with him because he comes to the gym smiling every day. Some people are grumpy, they hate training, but he likes training just as much as he likes getting his hand raised. When you got that, that’s the making of a legend right there.

Since Pettis‘ last loss to Guida back in 2011, he’s grown by leaps and bounds. He’s a perfect 5-0, and he’s won all but one of the fights by stoppage. Three of the stoppages have come in the first round. There’s no questioning dos Anjos‘ worthiness to be in position to challenge for the title, but on Saturday, he’ll fall victim to a young, smart and hungry champion.

Pettis will submit yet another creditable challenger to move up the pound-for-pound rankings.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.

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UFC 185: Fight Card, Start Time and Final Pettis vs. Dos Anjos Predictions

UFC lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis headlines the UFC 185 card on Saturday from Dallas, Texas. Pettis will be defending his title for a second time and the opponent will be Rafael dos Anjos. To earn the shot, dos Anjos defeated Benson He…

He currently stands as the No. 1 contender in the 155-pound division and a serious threat to dethrone Pettis. In Pettis‘ last bout, he defeated the tough and accomplished Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez by submission in the second round at UFC 182.

When Pettis and dos Anjos collide on Saturday, the MMA world will be watching as “Showtime” attempts to pass the newest test of his greatness.

Why Pettis Will Retain His Title

While dos Anjos is known for his versatility, he isn’t as dangerous as Pettis in any facet of the game. The champion is a more dynamic and explosive striker. This is evidenced by his 56 percent knockout rate in his fights.

When it comes to submissions, Pettis is equally as deadly. The submission win over Melendez was the eighth of his professional MMA career. In total, 15 of his 18 wins have come by a stoppage of some sort. Just 12 of dos Anjos‘ 23 wins have come inside the distance.

The only fighters who have been able to defeat Pettis were able to grind it out with him. To do that, dos Anjos must escape the unorthodox attacks and protect his limbs and neck against submissions.

The last fighter to defeat Pettis was Clay Guida back in June 2011 at The Ultimate Fighter 13 finale. It could be argued that dos Anjos has a style that might allow him to take Pettis into deep waters, but the champion has improved so much since he last tasted defeat.

While he’ll still try the occasional circus attack, he’s much smarter with his choices. Per Matt Parrino of UFC.com, Pettis‘ trainer Duke Roufus talked about how the champion mentally approaches the game at this stage of his career:

He is very cerebral in his approach to everything he does. It’s so easy to do these fight camps with him because he comes to the gym smiling every day. Some people are grumpy, they hate training, but he likes training just as much as he likes getting his hand raised. When you got that, that’s the making of a legend right there.

While dos Anjos is a quality fighter, Pettis is a truly special champion who still feels the need to get better and separate himself from the pack. A head-kick finish is totally possible, but another second-round submission seems more likely. Either way, on Saturday, Pettis will be victorious.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.

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Pettis vs. Dos Anjos: Latest Twitter Hype Before UFC 185

The Anthony “Showtime” Pettis vs. Rafael dos Anjos fight is already a good one on paper. Pettis is a dynamic champion who is facing a versatile, no-nonsense top contender.The fact that undefeated contender Khabib Nurmagomedov is lurking for the winner …

The Anthony “Showtime” Pettis vs. Rafael dos Anjos fight is already a good one on paper. Pettis is a dynamic champion who is facing a versatile, no-nonsense top contender.

The fact that undefeated contender Khabib Nurmagomedov is lurking for the winner only makes the situation surrounding the UFC lightweight title all the more compelling.

On Saturday, from the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas, at UFC 185, Pettis will attempt to defend his UFC lightweight title for the second time against Dos Anjos. The two men met for the first of their two ceremonial staredowns on Thursday. The second took place at Friday’s weigh-in.

Fox Sports captured this image from the first event:

While both fighters carried a very serious demeanor for the snapshot, there’s seemingly no bad blood and a wealth of respect between the two men. Per John Morgan and Ken Hathaway of MMA Junkie, Pettis called Dos Anjos “the most dangerous guy in the division”—besides Nurmagomedov.

There’s seemingly no way Pettis is looking past such a formidable foe. Although, it’s easy to see how Nurmagomedov might be grabbing the champion’s attention. Check out this tweet from Nurmagomedov:

Per the tweet below and quote per MMA junkie, Pettis has caught wind of Nurmagomedov’s trolling.

Pettis is not a loud champion with a ton of bravado, but he does have a great amount of pride. As he states to Matt Parrino of UFC.com, he hears the critics.

“I definitely hear and see; it’s impossible not to hear it and not to see it,” Pettis said. “People calling me injury prone and paper champion, but I just take the higher route.”

With Donald Cerrone set to face Nurmagomedov, the latter has a stiff test at hand before he can get in the Octagon with Pettis—should he win on Saturday.

While all of the background chatter takes place regarding a fight that has yet to be made, Dos Anjos is quietly waiting and hoping he can take advantage of a champion who might be looking too far ahead. With wins over Nate Diaz and Benson Henderson in his last two bouts, Dos Anjos has proved he is capable of beating big names.

Which fighter will put themselves in position to defend the title against the winner of the Cerrone-Nurmagomedov scrap?

We’ll find out on Saturday, but this is going to be an interesting scrap and post-fight interview, no matter who wins.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.

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UFC 185 Fight Card: Analyzing Pettis vs. Dos Anjos and Event’s Other Top Fights

The UFC 185 card features a lineup of fights that might be described as a hit-and-miss list of bouts. Until the action takes place in the Octagon, you never really know. Atop the card are three fights that will probably intrigue the hardcore fan. Take …

The UFC 185 card features a lineup of fights that might be described as a hit-and-miss list of bouts. Until the action takes place in the Octagon, you never really know.

Atop the card are three fights that will probably intrigue the hardcore fan. Take a look at the entire scheduled card for Saturday in Dallas, Texas:

Johny Hendricks vs. Matt Brown

If you’re looking for a bout that has all the makings of a Fight of the Night winner, look no further than the Johny Hendricks vs. Matt Brown scrap. Both men prefer to go to battle in the stand-up, though Hendricks is a world-class wrestler.

This will be Hendricks’ first fight since losing his welterweight title to “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler in Dec. 2014 at UFC 182. Brown’s last fight was also a loss to Lawler back in July 2014.

The two men undoubtedly want to get back to a point where they can face Lawler again—should he still be champion. Brown has won fight-night bonuses in each of his last four fights. If Hendricks doesn’t take the fight to the ground, there’s a good chance that streak is run to five.

Even if the fight goes to the ground, Brown is still dangerous. He has a sneaky submission game that Hendricks will have to be wary of as he chases victory. Besides the main event, if there is one fight from Saturday’s card that you don’t want to miss, it’s this one.

Carla Esparza vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Following Ronda Rousey is a tough task. Fair or not, women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza’s reign will be compared to Rousey’s dominant run. Esparza is the first and only champion of the brand new weight class.

In the interview below with Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting, Esparza talks about the pressure, her opponent and possibly taking a break after a whirlwind 2014 and early 2015:

As a skilled and strong wrestler, Esparza will be facing a fighter who is intent upon staying on her feet. Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s strength is as a stand-up fighter. If she can keep the fight standing, she figures to have an advantage. She changes levels well and looks to pick opponents apart in the Octagon.

Up to this point, she’s undefeated at 8-0. One thing to consider here is that Jedrzejczyk has only two stoppage wins in her eight-fight career, and none of them have come in the UFC.

If she can’t sting Esparza, she’ll have to exhibit some great takedown defense for 25 minutes to gut out a decision victory. That will be a tough task against a relentless and focused champion like Esparza.

Pettis vs. Dos Anjos

Despite the fact that Pettis has beaten the likes of Gilbert Melendez, Benson Henderson (twice) and Donald Cerrone, there’s still some who question if he’s in the same category as Jon Jones, Jose Aldo, Demetrious Johnson and Rousey as a champion.

Per Matt Parrino of UFC.com, Pettis talked about his critics:

“I definitely hear and see; it’s impossible not to hear it and not to see it,” Pettis said. “People calling me injury prone and paper champion, but I just take the higher route.”

Every great fighter has haters. If they didn’t they wouldn’t be great. It seems a bit odd that a guy who has knocked off three straight opponents with a combined record of 77-15 would have his status as champion questioned.

To Pettis’ credit, he always speaks with class and respect, yet he’s driven to shut the mouths of those who doubt him. On Saturday, Dos Anjos will be the one looking to shut Pettis up.

When it comes to well-rounded MMA games, Dos Anjos ranks near the top. He’s a skilled submissions fighter, and he proved he could stop an opponent when he scored a TKO over Henderson in Aug. 2014.

Pettis will likely need his multitude of gifts to get through his latest challenge.

All stat, height and reach references per FightMetric.com

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.

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UFC 185 Start Time: PPV Schedule and Pettis vs. Dos Anjos Fight Card Predictions

As pay-per-view events go, UFC 185 doesn’t have a ton of curb appeal, but the action might just be better than the name recognition on the card. UFC lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis will defend his title against Rafael dos Anjos in the ma…

In the co-feature, UFC women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza will make her first defense against Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Both Dos Anjos and Jedrzejczyk are No. 1 contenders in their division, so these challenges are designed to represent the stiffest test for the two champions.

Here’s a look at the start times, viewing information and predictions.

The Champions’ Challenges

Jedrzejczyk’s Muay-Thai

To put it plain, Jedrzejczyk wants to engage Esparza in a stand-up battle, and you can tell in the interview below from the UFC’s YouTube channel that Jedrzejczyk is confident she can get the job done.

The challenger brings an impressive striking repertoire into the Octagon. She doesn’t have much power, but she’s able to attack from all angles.

Esparza could possibly contend with her on the feet, but the safer and smarter game plan would be to take the fight to the ground where she is more skilled and has the strength advantage.

The champion should win this bout because Jedrzejczyk lacks the explosiveness to thwart her attempts to take her down. Also, Jedrzejczyk’s ground game is so underdeveloped that she should be at Esparza’s mercy on the mat.

Dos Anjos’ Versatility

You can’t call Dos Anjos a knockout fighter or a submission specialist. He’s simply a dangerous opponent with a few ways to beat anyone he faces. Pettis is undoubtedly prepared for the challenge and not taking Dos Anjos lightly.

Per John Morgan and Ken Hathaway of MMA Junkie, Pettis said this of Dos Anjos and the current elite group of 155-pound fighters [sic]:

Honeslty, (dos Anjos) is probably the most dangerous guy I see on the lightweight roster besides Khabib. Khabib beat him, so you’ve got to say that. But other than that, dos Anjos beat (Donald) Cerrone. Dos Anjos beat (Benson) Henderson. Us three are at the top of the division, so we’re going to battle it out and see who’s best.

Pettis isn’t just an athletic and dynamic performer, he’s also one of the most cerebral and studied champions in the sport. He will be prepared and victorious on Saturday night.

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