Anthony Pettis No Longer Next for UFC Champ Frankie Edgar
By Chris Leslie on January 2, 2011
UPDATE: UFC President Dana White changed his mind and an immediate rematch between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard is now expected before Anthony Pettis’ title shot.
Despite Frankie Edgar fighting Gray Maynard to a split draw at Saturday’s UFC 125, Anthony Pettis will still face Edgar for the UFC lightweight title next, the UFC announced at the post-UFC 125 press conference.
Pettis earned a title shot with a win over champ Ben Henderson last month at WEC 53 and gained notoriety for his highlight-reel off-the-cage kick in the win along with an appearance on MTV’s “World of Jenks”.
MORE: UFC 125 recap, UFC 125 results, UFC 125 coverage
For complete UFC 125 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Anthony Pettis
Latest
I know the Pettis decision will probably p!ss some people off, the Maynardians in particular, but you have to all admit that its good to see Dana White following thru on a promised title shot…
It is nice to see DW follow through like that, but could get interesting if Pettis some how pulls off the win.
@justin -
Pettis pulls off a win and the 155 weightclass might become like the 205ers…
;-)
all of the fighters dana white has promised title shots to that got shafted hafta b askin themselves “WTF”
How can u say that? If u fight to a draw in a title fight an immediate rematch should happen no matter what. I had the fight 48-46 Edgar so Im not arguing for Maynard, but the fact is he did not win the fight, so how can u say he shouldnt have to fight Maynard again? Maynard deserves an immediate rematch he didn’t lose the fight I do not understand how u can say they shouldn’t fight again. I know pettis was guaranteed the next shot but so what things change
Because as I said, if you do that, you’re leaving a recognized belt in the same division hanging in the breeze. That’s worse than not giving an immediate rematch.
Agreed. You have to honor the unification match-up. Besides, Maynard had a chance to take the belt and he didn’t get it done.
I cosign with you 100%.
I mean I agree with willyt.
WOW…? That’s kinda crazy to me. How can a championship fight go to a draw and there not be a rematch right away?
It just really seems like tha UFC is not wanting Maynard as the champion or some ish.
That really sucks for Maynard, but I am really excited for this fight. Props to Frankie for making it through that first round. Great job by Gray as well.
to be fair… Gray may not be pushing for the immediate rematch… we all saw how well it worked out for BJ Penn to get that immediate rematch…
Truth…
But BJ LOSSED… he didnt tie
unify the titles then let gray fight the winner. works for me
I agree maynard had his shot and let it go to the judges his fault if ya ask me. Now give pettis his promised shot and let maynard and edgar fight it out to see who pettis faces to unify the ufc belt.
I gotta say that im happy that Pettis gets his promised shot but this situation is way different. NO ONE explected that outcome, it almost warrants an immediate rematch. Idk, this situation is weird.
@lex415 -
I agree that Edgar-Maynard 2 had a fairly unsatisfying result which almost no one foresaw, but consider this:
If the judges award the decision to either Edgar or Maynard, the fanbase would call bullsh!t.
If Dana White orders yet another immediate rematch after yet another unsatisfactory decision, HE’S calling bullsh!t.
By following thru on his original intention to award the last WEC 155 titleholder the next UFC 155 title shot, DW’s keeping his word and respecting the SAC crew.
No one is delighted, but no one is calling bullsh!t either, which unfortunately has been happening an AWFUL lot lately in MMA in general and the UFC in particular.
Probably the best course of action after a funky finish for all concerned, and of course its always possible that the fight actually WAS a draw, even though I personally scored the fight for Maynard…
I don’t think Dana calling for a rematch is in any way calling bullshit. If Dana calls for a rematch, then really he’s agreeing with the judges and saying the fight was to close to have a winner so a rematch needs to happen to know who Pettis should challenge/have a unification match with.
Pet tis should absolutely get the first titleshot after the rematch, but the rematch should happen first so that a winner can be determined and there isn’t a cloud of ambiguity hanging over the belt.
This situation is for sure unique and if I remember right, has never happened before.
Regardless, either fight that happens will be sick
Yeah, this thread is going to get “updated”
Chatter is Dana is ordering an immediate rematch…
YES – looking for updates over the next few weeks. Other websites are speculating that this potential rematch could (co)headline either the Lesnar v Dos Santos FN25 card in May, or the Couture v Machida card in Toronto in April. Gees, add a GSP fight on that card too … super stacked!
munkey nutz, that would be arguably the best card ever.
I would LOVE to see Lesnar-JDS! it’s only right.
What i thinnk should happen since the Hendo-Pettis fight was so close it should be Frankie fighting Pettis and Gray fighting Hendo and the two winners fighting to unify the title. That way Pettis gets his shot and Maynard can still earn another title shot with just one win against a guy who can arguably deserve a rematch had the WEC not merged with the UFC. That’s what i’d do…but i guess that’s why i’m not the UFC president or match-maker.
If Edgar fights Pettis the titles are unified then.
It is still kind of a cool idea though. Hendo vs Maynard would be sick.
Maynard had his shot and I think he was lucky to get a draw. Except for the first round he had nothing but a bunch of stuffed takedowns. Even when he landed one, Edgar returned with combinations. 3rd round, which everyone thinks he stole, he was caught in a guillotine and saved by the bell.
Anyway, stay true to the promise, let Pettis go in and steal the belt and then let Maynard and Edgar fight again for a chance at it.
Well Anthony Pettis, last WEC 155 titleholder, welcome to the UFC.
Your title shot has been…redacted…and they’ll get to it eventually.
Sort of.
Actually…maybe you ought to just hit up Nate Marquardt and Jon Fitch to walk you thru this strange new exciting part of your UFC career…
Can Edgar destroy Maynard this time like Edger vs Penn 2? All he needs to do is avoid those hooks from Maynard. Man I was so blown away by Edgars “Michael Jordan 360″ slam dunk. Then double leg take downs, then excellent defense against the takedowns. Being such a small frame compare to maynard, maynard couldn’t wore him down.
Also quick in-n-out combination!!!
Alright I feel stupid, but is the rematch next or not?
“Despite Frankie Edgar fighting Gray Maynard to a split draw at Saturday’s UFC 125, Anthony Pettis will still face Edgar for the UFC lightweight title next, the UFC announced at the post-UFC 125 press conference.”
Rematch is next Edgar vs Gray 3. Pettis will wait or they will do some other plan. Thats what it looks like now.
It was a weird decision for the main event at ufc 125. I am not a maynard or edgar fan at all. I do believe from what I saw that edgar did pull off the win. Now with that said I have been a Pettis fan for years.It will be a great fight between edgar and Pettis but Pettis has earned every win that he has and he will be the next UFC lightweight champion.
Just read that they changed their mind to an immediate rematch….LAAAAAAMMMMMMEEE!!!!!