Anthony Pettis has two opponents in mind if Jose Aldo is retiring

By Chris Taylor - October 5, 2016

Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis was hoping to score a title fight with current interim UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

Anthony Pettis

However, after news broke that Eddie Alvarez would be defending his lightweight strap against current featherweight champion Conor McGregor at November’s highly anticipated UFC 205 in New York, a frustrated Aldo announced that he was done with fighting and requested his release from the UFC.

“Showtime” was a guest on tonight’s episode of UFC Tonight where he suggested two different opponent options for his next fight, this if Jose Aldo was in fact set on retirement. His words:

Anthony Pettis was last seen in action at August’s UFC on FOX event in Vancouver, Canada, where he scored a third-round submission victory over a very game Charles Oliveira. The fight marked Anthony’s featherweight debut and the result quickly moved “Showtime” up the 145-pound ranks.

Pettis Oliveira staredown

Prior to his victory over “Do Bronx”, Pettis had suffered three-straight setbacks at 155-pounds, dropping decisions to Rafael dos Anjos, current lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, and rising contender Edson Barboza respectively.

In Max Holloway, Pettis would be looking to score a fight with the featherweight divisions top contender. “Blessed” is currently riding a jaw-dropping nine-fight win streak, his latest being a decision victory over former 145-pound title challenger Ricardo Lamas at UFC 199 in June.

Prior to outpointing Lamas, Holloway had scored victories over Jeremy Stephens, Charles Oliveira and Cub Swanson. The Hawaiian’s last setback came in August of 2013, when he dropped a decision to Conor McGregor at UFC Fight Night 26 in Boston.

The other opponent “Showtime” has in mind is none other than the “Stockton Slugger” Nate Diaz. The former lightweight title challenger (Diaz) is coming off a majority decision loss to Conor McGregor in the headlining bout of August’s UFC 202 event in Las Vegas.

Prior to the setback, Diaz had scored a shocking second-round submission victory over “Mystic Mac” at UFC 196 this past March, this after taking the bout on very short-notice.

Who would you rather see Anthony Pettis square off with in his next octagon appearance, Nate Diaz or Max Holloway? Sound off PENN Nation!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM


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