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From MMATorch.com UFC By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The final WEC Lightweight Champion - who defeated Henderson for that belt in the final fight in that organization's history - has become the forgotten man in the division despite a promised title shot when he entered the UFC. When Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard fought to a draw last January, prompting an immediate rematch, Pettis opted to take a fight with Clay Guida. That didn't go his way, as he was stifled by Guida's wrestling through three rounds and lost a decision. He's bounced back with two straight wins, however, and after knocking out Joe Lauzon with a vicious head kick in February he felt he had a claim to a title shot. Then Edgar lost a close decision to Henderson, and the rematch once again reared its ugly head. Pettis still feels he deserves that title shot, but Diaz has now been promised that fight himself. With both believing they're the No. 1 contender in the division, Pettis thinks there's an easy solution. "Nate Diaz thinks he's the No. 1 contender, I think I'm the No. 1 contender, so let's figure out who's the real No. 1 contender," he said after Saturday's event (via MMAWeekly.com). Pettis is confident he can beat Diaz as well, believing he's got a similar style to Interim Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit, who bested Nate's older brother Nick at UFC 143 in February. "Carlos Condit showed the blueprint on how to beat these guys, and I think my style of striking is just like his," Pettis explained. "It's going to be a tough fight, it's not an easy fight at all, but I think my style is a great match-up for him." Ultimately, Pettis is just frustrated. If Henderson-Edgar goes on as planned, and Diaz waits out the next shot, that means he must fight once or twice more before it would even be his turn for a shot. Still, he remains confident that whenever he gets his opportunity to fight for the belt, he'll make the most of it. "It sucks for me," he said flatly. "Everybody's getting rematches, I'm just kind of stuck. I was supposed to get a title shot when I first came in, it didn't happen. Two years later I'm still waiting for a title shot, when it happens, I'm going to be ready." Penick's Analysis: It really is a crappy situation for Pettis to be in, especially considering he holds a win over the current champion and is coming off a head kick knockout in February. He's recovering well from shoulder surgery, and is expected to return by September or October, which would have been perfect for a fight between he and Diaz, though it would have eliminated one of them from contention. I still maintain the right course of action is to give Diaz the title shot in August, then book Edgar vs. Pettis in September, but that may not be something the UFC is willing to do. If the current course of action remains in place, Pettis will need a fight in September, then likely a fight around late December or January, when the Henderson/Edgar vs. Diaz fight would then take place. So that may mean two more wins are needed for him to be in a title fight, and that's certainly an unfortunate spot for him to be in. © Copyright by MMATorch.com |
