Thursday 2 June 2011

Dana White: Anthony Pettis will 'probably' have to fight again to get a title shot

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Does beating Clay Guida at the TUF 13 Finale on June 4 get Anthony Pettis a lightweight title fight against the winner of "Edgar vs. Maynard 3?"
"Probably" not.
That's according to UFC President Dana White, who recognized the "bad position" Pettis was in after migrating to the Octagon in the wake of the promotion's WEC merger.
"Showtime" is the last man to hold the WEC lightweight title and is widely considered one of the division's top 155-pound fighters.
Then again, so is Jim Miller.
So if Pettis can saw through "The Carpenter" this Saturday night in "Sin City" and Jim Miller can overcome Ben Henderson on Aug. 14, will these two scrappers be forced to square off to determine the division's true number one contender?
Either way, it's a "shitty position" for Pettis to be in, according to White (via Fighters Only):
"That kid's in a bad position. He's supposed to be the next in line. All this craziness happens. [Edgar and Maynard] both get hurt, and it gets pushed back again. The first one is a draw, then they get hurt, and it gets pushed back again. But this is one of those things that happens in a sport like this. I respect [Pettis] for stepping up and taking on a tough guy like Guida, and he'll probably have to fight again before he gets a shot at one of those guys. Sucks for him. It's a shitty position for him to be in."
It's also safe to say that Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard haven't exactly been doing him any favors.
The lightweight rivals battled for the 155-pound strap back at UFC 125 in January, but their five round fracas ended without a "Resolution" after cageside judges scored it a draw.
"The Answer" retained his title but was unable to defend it against "The Bully" when both fighters went down with injuries, prompting the cancellation of their UFC 130 trilogy.
They're expected to finish what they started later this year, but in the meantime, the rest of the division has been placed on hold.
Will it cost "Showtime" his title shot? Or will he dispose of Guida and anyone else who gets in his way en route to the lightweight belt?

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