Former UFC champion calls out Anthony Pettis for rematch in boxing
Anthony Pettis made his debut in the boxing ring on Saturday. After managing to secure the victory, he has been targeted by a former UFC champion who is interested in running it back with the star, this time in the squared circle.
'Showtime' was once one of the biggest names in the sport of mixed martial arts during his time as the UFC's lightweight king. But as he aged, his performances in the cage understandably deteriorated. The fan favorite has since put a hold on his MMA career to compete in the sport of boxing.
In a post on social media, former titleholder Rafael dos Anjos set his sights on a boxing clash with Anthony Pettis. The pair fought all the way back in 2015 at UFC 185.
Rematch in box? twitter.com/showtimepettis…
Anthony Pettis was considered the underdog coming into his Gamebred Boxing 4 bout against Roy Jones Jr., but managed to overcome the odds and get his hand raised via majority decision.
After signing with the UFC over a decade ago and overcoming a loss in his debut, 'Showtime' went on a five-fight win streak inside the octagon. Wins over Jeremy Stephens, Joe Lauzon, and Donald Cerrone were enough to earn the star a title shot.
Pettis captured gold against Benson Henderson and made one defense of the 155-pound strap before coming up against the aforementioned Rafael dos Anjos. The Brazilian showed his level on the night, handing Pettis the loss and coming away with the UFC lightweight championship.
Anthony Pettis' MMA record since departing the UFC
Once considered among the best fighters in the world, Anthony Pettis' performances took a hit and he struggled to put together a run of wins.
After finally locking up back-to-back victories inside the octagon, the BJJ black belt parted ways with the promotion and found himself as a potential new poster boy of the rising Professional Fighters League (PFL).
As he looked to fight his way to the $1 million prize in the PFL, Pettis was matched up against Clay Collard in his promotional debut. After rocking his opponent, he was ultimately outclassed and came up short via decision.
The MMA veteran now finds himself with an unimpressive 1-4 record since leaving the UFC, which may have been a huge factor in his recent move to boxing.