Anthony Pettis Eying July Return, Wants Nate Diaz As His Opponent

UFC lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis has had a tumultuous 2013, to say the least. After earning his 155-pound title shot by destroying Donald Cerrone in January, the oft-injured Pettis was slated to face UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo in the main event of UFC 163 in Brazil.

A minor knee injury suffered in training put that blockbuster bout on hold. Pettis began campaigning to replace T.J. Grant against then champion Benson Henderson in the UFC 164 headliner. Grant, who had quietly inched his way up the ladder by winning five fights in a row, viewed it as sort of a selfish move.

But fate was apparently on Pettis’ side in that instance. A concussion suffered by Grant in training allowed Pettis to step in and face rival Henderson, defeating him with a first round armbar to lock up the title.

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Pettis was set to make a quick turnaround against Josh Thomson at December 14’s UFC on Fox 9 card in Sacramento, but once again the injury bug hit.

“Showtime” tore his PCL, forcing him into surgery that will reportedly keep him on the sidelines for six to eight months. There’s no set timetable for his return, but the beleaguered champion appeared on last night’s “UFC Tonight” to detail his situation:

“The doctor said six to eight months. I’m hoping six months, so hopefully I’ll be back for a July fight. Nate Diaz has been talking so much. He looked pretty decent in his last fight. I hope he works his way up and we get to fight.”

Interesting. Diaz was nearly written off before he destroyed previously number five-ranked Gray Maynard at last weekend’s The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale. He had lost his previous two bouts to Henderson and Thomson in destructive fashion. That didn’t keep him from running his mouth about Pettis after he found out about the champ’s injury.

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Meanwhile, Thomson and Henderson will lock horns early next year at UFC on Fox 10. It’s more than hard to believe that the winner of that bout doesn’t deserve the next shot at Pettis given how easily they destroyed the younger Diaz. Henderson may or may not be booked to fight for the title because he’s already lost to Pettis twice.

Diaz should probably have to win one or even two more high quality bouts before he receives another title opportunity. But his trash-talking style sells. Diaz has stated that he’s content to wait on the sidelines for a top name to get injured so he can step in to fight for the title.

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Unfortunately that’s been happening all too much in recent months. There’s no doubt that Pettis has the skills and drive to become one of the longest-running champions the UFC lightweight division has ever seen. Can he stay healthy for an extended period of time in order to prove that?

Outer Photo: Benny Sieu for USA TODAY Sports