Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: What should Anthony Pettis' next move be now that Edgar-Maynard III is coming? Hansen, Hyden, Hobaugh, Williams and Penick
Jan 6, 2011 - 10:21:48 PM ROUNDTABLE: What should Anthony Pettis' next move be now that Edgar-Maynard III is coming? Hansen, Hyden, Hobaugh, Williams and Penick

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What should be Anthony Pettis' next move now that Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard will meet for a third time?

RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Now this is easy.  Pettis shouldn't enter the octagon until the conclusion of the Edgar-Maynard rematch, where he can shake Frankie Edgar's hand, point at the belt, and say, "Mine."  

Don't believe me?  Think he should fight again?  Just ask Josh Grispi how that worked out for him?  Look, it doesn't matter if Pettis is 23, or 42.  There is no damn guarantee that he will ever get another title shot.  If you're offered a title shot, you sell your fucking soul to the devil before you give up that shot, capisce?

FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Depending on when Edgar vs. Maynard 3 takes place, he should do nothing but train. He fought a few weeks ago so it's not like he's been in limbo for months. If the UFC can get the Edgar vs. Maynard rematch setup and done quickly, Pettis won't have been sitting out too long. I wouldn't question Pettis if he decides to take a fight in between his title shot, but that would be taking a major chance. The lightweight division in the UFC is one of the deepest divisions in MMA so whoever he would fight would be a tough opponent. It's really up to him to make the final decision. I think he should wait, though.

ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH SPECIALIST

Anthony Pettis is in a no win situation.  If he fights and loses, he will not deserve his title shot.  I believe his talent level is maybe in the top 15 of the UFC.  He is an excellent fighter, but has not seen the level of competition currently in the UFC.  I do think he will fight before his title shot, but this is a BIG mistake.  If I was on his management team I would let him not fight until the Edgar-Maynard rematch was over and his title shot was signed.  This is the only scenario I can see that makes any sense in him keeping his title shot. Who should he fight in the top ten that he has a realistic shot at beating?  Kenny Florian?  Clay Guida?  Jim Miller?  None of these fights, in my opinion, end well for Pettis. This is really a bad spot for him to be in.

ALEX WILLIAMS, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Anthony Pettis should aim to stay busy while not risking his title opportunity.  To this end, he should fight someone like Clay Guida.  Having a match before his bout with Gray Maynard or Frankie Edgar would not only help Pettis to stay sharp, but also allow him to get any "first time in the Octagon" jitters out of the way.  If a Guida-type defeats him, it suggests Pettis wouldn't have much of shot against Maynard or Edgar anyway.    

JAMIE PENICK, MMATORCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I'm all for Pettis taking a fight while Edgar and Maynard face off again. I would have been very excited to see him fight either to unify the title had there been a definitive result, but the fact of the matter is he was going to leapfrog a number of contenders with much more worthy resumes for a title shot. Having him take a fight in the UFC, to not only step into the Octagon for the first time, but to take on someone that could make him a clear contender for the Lightweight Championship. If he can get a win in the UFC under his belt, then he can take the next shot at the title. And if he loses, well, then he shouldn't have been fighting for the title in the first place. His WEC Title means as much to the UFC's lightweight division as Carlos Condit's WEC Welterweight Title did when he came over to the UFC in 2009, so it's not as if there isn't a precedent for making him earn his shot. He very well be able to capture the title, but I wouldn't mind seeing him earn his opportunity in the Octagon.