UFC Lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis will do battle against number one contender Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 185 on March 14th.
Pettis has been plagued with injury throughout his career. In February 2013 Showtime Pettis announced he did not want to wait to fight for the title against Benson “Smooth” Henderson and would instead drop down to 145 and fight at featherweight to challenge champion Jose Aldo. This fight never took place as Pettis seriously injured his knee and could not fight.
In August 2013 Pettis was scheduled to face the Lightweight champion Benson Henderson in a title match. This would be the second time these two would face each other it also proved to be the second time Showtime Pettis would defeat Benson Henderson and take another belt from him. Pettis won via arm bar submission in the first round.
Pettis, now the new defending Lightweight champion was scheduled to face Josh “The Punk” Thomson in December 2013, but this fight was cancelled due to Pettis once again pulling out with a knee injury.
Since becoming champion Pettis has spent more time out of the ring than inside. He finally returned to the octagon a little shy of one and a half years since becoming the Lightweight champion (roughly 16 months) for a successful title defense against Gilbert “EL Nino” Melendez in December 2014 at UFC 181.
His opponent, Rafael Dos Anjos has had five fights in the same time frame from August 2013 to December 2014. Dos Anjos, climbing his way up the Lightweight contender ladder has won four of his last five fights, with wins over Donald Cerrone, Jason High and Benson Henderson. Dos Anjos has earned the number one contender spot and the chance at UFC gold.
Anthony Showtime Pettis and Rafael Dos Anjos have both lost to Clay “The Carpenter” Guida early in their careers and both men have improved tremendously since those loses. I think this is a great match up and should prove to be an action packed fight. Dos Anjos reminds me of Clay Guida, which could prove to be problematic for Pettis. Dos Anjos will also provide problems with the serious power he has in his kicks. However, Dos Anjos has been known to get a little loose and throw wild haymakers which could prove to a blessing if he connects, but opens him up to the counter attack if he does not. Meanwhile, Pettis brings incredible speed and a tighter, more technical striking gamet. We have also seen how well Pettis can fight off of his back, as he is constantly looking for openings to go for the submission.
Both fighters have belts in Jiu Jitsu, Rafael Dos Anjos has a black belt while Pettis has a brown belt. Pettis also has a black belt in Kickboxing, a yellow rope in Capoeira and he is a 3rd dan in Tae Kwon Do. I really think this has all of the makings to be a good fight. When all is said and done, I don’t think Showtime Pettis is ready to give up the belt, and I don’t think Dos Anjos can take it, so I predict a finish with Pettis remaining the UFC Lightweight champion.
Also on the fight card we will see Carla Esparza taking on Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Johny Hendricks up against Matt Brown, Roy Nelson facing off against Alistair Overeem, Chris Cariaso vs Henry Cejudo and on UFC Fight Pass prelims we will see Sergio Pettis younger brother of the Champ will take on Ryan Benoit.
