Anthony Pettis: I match-up well with Nate Diaz

Pettis has got a puncher's chance, but that's all. Diaz's intensity would probably throw off AT's game. And if Diaz can get it to the ground even once, I don't like Pettis' chances.

Disagree, I think Pettis has better striking all around and his Jits skills are high level and definately enough to defend although I would bet he would attack. I think this would be a bad matchup for Diaz because of the greater explosiveness, equal cardio, crisper, faster and more diverse overall striking and he loves the battle just as much.

I think pettis is a fantastic fighter with some of the best standup in the lightweight divison but i dont think hes the best stylistic match up for diaz, actually its the complete opposite.



his last two fights have proved that he is at his best when he stands and trades with kick boxers and power punchers. I think he would frustrate pettis a lot more than people think.



And as for the ground game, Nate Diaz has some of the best submissions in the lightweight divison, if not THE best. Nobody can finish on the ground like nate diaz and his 8 ufc submissions are proof of that. This is the fight that would unclog the lightweight divison and i really want it to happen lol

No Pettis is way better than diaz. But Bendo is above them.

The Bendo of today is a lot better than the One who lost to pettis.

Plus his thighs got bigger and stronger hahaha

People forget that Pettis already BEAT Bendo, Cerrone could've had BEAT diaz if he had commited yo the legtakedowns, Pettis has the best overrall stand up, improving wrestling and great bjj, no body has outstrike pettis or beat him in reality , but i know Diaz will be his biggest test

When Pettis is offered a fight instead waiting for the title fight he accepts.

When Diaz is offered a fight instead of waiting he waits.



Pettis > Diaz

That's what I thought before Nature fought my boy Cerrone. The cowboy was tall; which eliminated the reach advantage that Nate usually enjoys. He has an aggressive style and good hand speed with power.

And Nate bested him from one side of the cage to the other. This doesn't mean that he will be able to handle Showtime that way; but I didn't see him dominating Cerrone before the fact either. This kid never fails to impress me.

I agree with you to an extent. Pettis is definitely a more diverse striker, and he probably is faster. I think Diaz has the best boxing as well as the best timing and accuracy in the LW division, which effectively neutralizes any speed advantage other fighters have over him. Pettis might be able to outstrike him by using a lot of kicks and staying out of range, but it's going to be tough. Cerrone leg kicked the crap out of him and he just kept coming forward.



As far as Pettis BJJ skills, he is very good, but so is Jim Miller. I nobody has ever even come close to doing what Diaz did to him in that fight. I just think Diaz is on another level on the ground.



It would be a very tough fight to pick, but I would probably lean towards Diaz winning due to his pace, aggressiveness and accuracy.

Jim Miller would never have been submitted by Diaz if he had not already been badly hurt by Nate's standup.

good point, but you always have to suffer alot of damage when you fight with a fighter like Diaz

Cowboy had a terrible performance due to the fact he was not coping on the recieveing end unlik Pettis who remains dangerous. Cobow became a robot and Pettis under fire gets very intense too.

Cerrone was stupid and played Nate's game.



How many times did Cerrone take Diaz down with kicks?



But he did not have the cojones to jump into Nate's guard.



Rory MacDonald had no such fear, and jumped into BJJ ace Nate's guard, and smashed him. If you can avoid submission, good GnP will nullify BJJ.



As the Gracie brothers say: every strike to the head makes you lose a BJJ Ranking.

Black Belt

Pow!

Brown Belt

Smack!

Purple Belt

Helbow!

Blue Belt

Hammer fist!

White Belt

Well, we won't see the usual aggressive Pettis style if he fights Nate anyway. Nobody wants to go toe to toe with the Diaz boys.

Showtime said in the interview that Condit presented the world with the blueprint to best the Diaz boys. And if he fights Diaz like that, instead of the usual dynamic, classy style that we have come to know him for; it would suck a.s.s!

I like watching fights to see whose style of fighting is the best. Condit changed his aggressive style in favor of a safe, less dynamic, confrontation avoiding style in order to beat Nick on points. I just wonder how much better the fight would have been if Carlos would have brought The Natural Born Killer with him that night.

That is all true overall but i feel Pettis has a different approach mentaly compared to Condit. I do think though that Ben Henderson is the number 1 guy and won't be beat in a rematch with Pettis or lose to Diaz in the future. Ben is unbelievable in submission defense, great striking, great submissions, heart of flippin depleted uranium, stamina of an olympian and solid wrestling base. I think he may get caught but i don't see anybody beating him twice.

Go rewatch the fight with Joe Lauzon. Lauzon was using a style very similar to the Diaz brothers, which is walk down your opponent and use combinations to back your opponent into the cage, then stand toe to toe and punch in bunches.



Pettis struck, and circled then struck again--avoiding Lauzon's charges.

I thought Condit had a different mentality coming into the fight with Diaz. Condit was known for the wars that he'd won. Pettis hopefully won't sacrifice anything in his style just to get a win over Nate if they fight.

You make a solid point about Ben though. I feel the same way about GSP, meaning he is another fighter that you can't bet against in a rematch. As much as I hate to admit.

Yeah.

Keep up that ish talking Pettis. Maybe the "Stockton smacker" (coined that one myself) can get heated enough to give us a bad ass #1 contender match-up.

I think he's going to have to try harder than that...maybe instead of "He thinks he's the #1 contender; I think I'm the #1 contender..." Try "This guys a fraud. He's ducked me for 4 years. He went up and beat a couple slow and unathletic 170 pounders. Give him my schedule and see how well he does..."



Then again, it doesn't seem to take much to piss of a Diaz.

pettis will use his showtime kick every 20 seconds. he will twist through the cage like a helicopter!

11 weaks? Lighten up guys. i thought it was funny but I would weak you just for a name that reminds me of too many nights with too much drink.

Yes you do match up well with him but I would rather see Nate fight for the belt.

if edgar somehow beats bendo, then i would rather see nate fight for the belt in his next fight, but i am more interested in seeing the rematch for FOTY (prediction): Bendo vs. Showtime, belt or no belt....

If Edgar beats Bendo, it will be a close decision, and Bendo will get a rematch because everyone else did...once again screwing over everyone in the LW division. So, while I have nothing against Edgar, I hope Bendo beats him down to 145 and Jose Aldo.

The only style which matches up with Diaz is a top level grappler who has great top control and submission defense. I thought that was Jim Miller but he even got subbed by DIaz.

Now I'm not so sure anyone matches up well with him.

I think Miller is half of what Ben would be against Diaz. Ben would not have been submitted and would definetly get top control and certainly hold his own striking. I think Ben is the wrong fight for Diaz.

Miller is a great grappler, but I have never been that impressed with his takedowns. Nate Diaz is big at lightweight, and in the clinch, his height was advantageous. Either Ben Henderson or Frankie Edgar could take down Diaz, control him, and avoid submissions.

Agreed with everything except hold his own striking with Diaz. He definitely ain't holding his own striking with Nate. Now, muscling him to the ground and not gettling choked, most definitely IMO.

I think he would hold his own but in a defensive manner and to set up something. I agree he would be unwise to go toe to toe for 5 rounds with Diaz.

I'm not sure he wouldn't hold his own striking with Diaz. He wouldn't be able to outbox Diaz, but he has the right style to be a bad matchup standing for Diaz. He's a tae kwon do based striker, and has great kicks as a result. He could use his kicks to keep Diaz on the outside and neutralize his boxing.



And while I still think that any strong wrestler is a bad matchup for Diaz...after seeing him choke out Miller, I will never again discount the possiblity of him submitting anyone...I don't care who they are.

One thing people really don't use against the Diaz brothers much is a good, hard jab. Benson showed and excellent jab against Edgar, which would serve him well against Diaz walking into it.



The Diaz brothers are confident in their chins, and seem ready to take damage to corner their opponents and unleash volume combos.

It's tough to use the jab against a guy who is already using it very effectively against you AND has a significant reach advantage...which the Diaz brothers both usually do.

IMO Pettis best chance is to stay at range and attack with his great kicks, especially using a lot of legs kicks. Go in for a take down every now and again to score points and do some top damage (Pettis should be okay he has incredible sub D but it is Diaz we're talking about).

If Pettis plays it like that he could win on points but MUCH easier said than done.

that I agree with. If he can match Diaz for the mental part he would likely win but it is very hard to do.

The latest formula for beating a Diaz brother is to avoid damage at all costs, run, lowkick, run, back pedal, lowkick, run, avoid damage, run......you get the point.

That is why I stopped watching boxing, because it became less about fighting as it became more about a point game. Now that style seems to be infecting mma more frequently. Some people like the "smart fight" mentality; and I probably would to if my favorite fighter used it to top in against someone tougher.

That is what I thought it was all about- who the toughest is, both mentally and skillwise.

Actually, that may be the latest, but it is not the best. Rory MacDonald showed the blueprint for defeating Nate Diaz in standup and on the ground.

I don't think nate has fought someone with pettis speed diversity and creativity. Of course I don't know when nate suddenly became so good either. I think pettis matches up well but I feel like the lesson has been learned that if you can't **** with him on the feet then stay far from the ground with him.

Listen to all the Diaz haters with your biast theories on how the Nate is going to lose. You are all blinded by your hate and fail to see that the Diaz bros are fighting Genius, and the best pure fighters in the world.

I like they both and would like to see the fight happen between these warrior before title shot ...