UFC
UFC 185's Anthony Pettis: "I think I can be the most dominant champ in this lightweight division"
Mar 4, 2015 - 2:55:46 PM UFC 185's Anthony Pettis: "I think I can be the most dominant champ in this lightweight division"

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Because of a knee injury and the UFC booking him on The Ultimate Fighter 20 last year, UFC Light Heavyweight Champ Anthony Pettis was out nearly a year and a half before making his first title defense. However, after beating Gilbert Melendez in December at UFC 181, he's defending his title just three months later, headlining next week's UFC 185 event against Rafael dos Anjos.

"Showtime" is out to show that the criticisms he received during his time off were unfounded, and he wants to establish himself as the best the lightweight division has ever seen.

"I had a year off with the knee injury so for me it's just getting back and getting busy, knocking these contenders off one at a time," Pettis said this week in an interview with FoxSports.com. "A lot of people talking saying I was dodging fights and I was sitting on the belt. I was injured and now I'm healthy. When I'm healthy now I just keep it going."

"... Me getting that belt was the first goal. Now it's time to set this legacy in place and make sure people remember my name for a long time. When you look at the lightweight division the biggest name that sticks out is B.J. Penn. He's an icon and he's been around a long time and he was dominant as the champ. I think I'm set up to be the next name in the line. You have Frankie Edgar, you have Ben Henderson, but I think I can be the most dominant champ in this lightweight division."

On top of his desire for divisional dominance, Pettis wants to be held in the same regard as the top draws in the sport.

"I want to be one of the pay-per-view kings in the UFC," Pettis said. "I think there's a path right now set up for someone to come in and take over and I can be that guy. I have the fighting style and people like seeing me fight. I don't plan on changing that. I just need to keep doing what I do and everything will happen."

Penick's Analysis: With Pettis' highlights and personality, he has the potential to take that next step. The lightweight division has struggled to draw since Penn's reign because, fair or not, fans didn't really gravitate to the styles of Frankie Edgar and Benson Henderson. If Pettis can stay healthy and keep winning fights the way he has in his current stretch, that can resonate. The key is consistency, both in results and in how often he's fighting, because more lengthy layoffs will have a negative effect on his draw. If he can avoid that, he'll have at least a chance to establish himself as that top level draw.