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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
New UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis has stopped three straight fights in the UFC, following up his two first round knockout wins over Joe Lauzon and Donald Cerrone with a first round submission of Benson Henderson at UFC 164.
It's been a long hard road to that Championship amidst those stoppage wins, and for the 26-year-old, Saturday night was the culmination of the work he's put in and how he's dreamt the fight would happen.
"You know man I'm real comfortable, I envisioned this for seven months," Pettis said of now holding the Title. "After I beat Donald Cerrone and there were doubts that I would fight for the title, all that I dreamt about was getting that belt wrapped around me and now it actually played out."
That third straight stoppage win came after three fights which went to a decision, and after the way his fight with Clay Guida set him back in 2011, Pettis says it's not something he's going to let happen as Champion.
"I'm never letting it go to the judges again, I learned that from Clay Guida," Pettis said. "Clay Guida took me down, wrestled me, stayed on top for three rounds and I lost the fight. I wasn't in trouble ever, but there are rules to this, there's a way to win this without finishing somebody and I'm not that guy."
"I'm going to finish everybody that I fight."
Penick's Analysis: Pettis has a great attitude for who he wants to be as a Champion, and it's playing out in his performances right now. He's a winner, that's just who he is; he's a dangerous fighter everywhere, he's added power to his arsenal that makes him a nightmare on the feet, and he just showcased what he can do on the ground. It's going to take someone with a great chin and an ability to absorb body blows to take him out, and we'll see if Jose Aldo or T.J. Grant is that man right away. But I don't think we'll see him suffer a setback the likes of the Clay Guida fight again.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
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