VIDEO | Anthony Pettis praises Conor McGregor, trashes Nate Diaz

Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis is pretty impressed by reigning lightweight champ Conor McGregor. He is not, however, impressed by McGregor’s fiercest rival, Nate Diaz.

Speaking to FightHype.com over the weekend, Pettis was asked about McGregor’s recent boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“I thought it was actually a good fight,” he said. “I think McGregor actually surprised a lot of people. I don’t know how hard Mayweather was trying, but I was there, I was impressed.”

Pettis was then asked about the possibility of a rematch between McGregor and Diaz, which is widely considered the most likely option for McGregor going forward.

“Bro, Nate Diaz ain’t shit,” he said. “Me and Nate have had a lot of issues. I was the champ in the UFC and WEC, and Diaz was calling me out. He got lucky in the [first] fight with Conor, and he got the win, but Diaz ain’t shit. He ain’t shit.” 

Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz are 1-1 across two fights, with Diaz winning the first by submission, and McGregor winning the second by majority decision. Since their second fight, McGregor has knocked out Eddie Alvarez to capture the UFC lightweight title, and fought Mayweather in the boxing ring. Diaz, meanwhile, has not fought.

Pettis, on the other hand, recently returned to the win column with an exciting win over Jim Miller. This win separated him from a disappointing loss to Max Holloway.

Pettis will next step into the cage in the main event of UFC Fight Night 120, which goes down on November 11 in Norfolk, Virginia. His opponent will be all-action contender Dustin Poirier.

What do you think of these comments from Anthony Pettis? How do you think he’d do against Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor? Join the conversation in the comments section!

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 9/11/2017.