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RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
What should the UFC do with Anthony Pettis now that they've screwed him and ditched him not once but twice? Well at the very least I hope they left cab fare on the dresser, because that is the gentlemanly thing to do when you screw someone and then want nothing to do with them.
If they want to continue to try to screw Showtime, how about a wrestling lesson with Gray Maynard? At least Pettis has a superior wrestler to train with in Ben Askren. Pettis would need more than active guard to compete with Maynard, as Maynard has been able to truck opponents who relied on active guards (I'm looking at you, Nate Diaz). Pettis could absolutely win that fight if Ben Askren is as much of a benefit to his defensive wrestling game as everyone in Milwaukee makes him out to be. That said, I just don't get the feeling that the UFC wants Maynard anywhere a number 1 contender's fight, because as scintillating as his last two fights with Edgar were nobody is thirsting for the epic trilogy to become an, um, quadlogy? Is that a word, quadlogy? Oh well. Whatever. Because if This is the way the UFC chooses to go and if both Maynard and Edgar win... yeah.
It's pretty obvious that the UFC is going to make Pettis wait until at least August to fight again (another screwing since he wants to fight asap) against the winner of Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller. Imagine the possibility of the guy Bendo lost to against the guy Bendo beat fighting for a shot at Bendo's title. We all know damn well who Bendo would be cheering for in that one. After all, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck...
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I think the route I would go would be to match Pettis against Gray Maynard. If I couldn't get that fight off the ground, I'd go with a rematch with Clay Guida. If Pettis were to win against either man, I'd have him fight Henderson next. If Henderson were Lightweight champion, it'd be a title fight. If Edgar wins the rematch, Pettis vs. Henderson 2 becomes an eliminator for Pettis. If Pettis wins, he gets a title shot against Edgar.
BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Anthony Pettis is in a weird spot, he won a fight that should have been a title eliminator - but now he's stuck waiting for the Henderson-Edgar rematch. Depending on when they actually get the rematch set for, Pettis could face the winner of Jim Miller and Nate Diaz to pass some time, and perhaps solidify who is the true #1 contender. A fight between Showtime and Nate Diaz would be an absolute blast to watch, and probably a 15 minute blood-letting. Honestly aside from that, there's no one for them to put him up against; Guillard has fallen down the ranks, Lauzon is trying to find pieces of his scalp in Japan and I don't know what is on the horizon for Gray Maynard. So the fights I'd put on tap for him would be the winner of Miller-Diaz or Maynard if he's ready to go. Otherwise let him relax, if he takes a fight it has to be relevant to the title picture, I guess a good backup would be shifting him into the Strikeforce cage to fight Melendez, but I have a better chance of hitting the lottery than seeing that happen anytime soon.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I agree with the instant rematch between Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson. It is a fight that makes the most sense after a close decision in their title fight.
That fight leaves Anthony Pettis in an interesting position. He has earned the next title shot after Edgar gets his rematch.
The UFC needs to find a high profile fight for Pettis it can sell to the fans. I like a fight between Gray Maynard and Pettis. Maynard is my number four lightweight and would be a HUGE test for Pettis. If he can get by Maynard he will be ready for his title fight. I have not heard what Maynard's next fight might be, so the timing could be perfect. This could also be one of the best fights of 2012 if the UFC can make this one happen.
CHRIS PARK, MMATORCH UK SPECIALIST
If Edson Barboza comes through against Evan Dunham then a Pettis vs. Barboza fight gets a ten out of ten from me for match making. Can you imagine the show that those two could potentially put on?
That would be my first choice, my second would be Nate Diaz (assuming he gets past Jim Miller) with the winner being an undisputed number one contender for the Lightweight title. - @MMATorchUK
ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Now that Frankie Edgar is fighting Benson Henderson again, Anthony Pettis is in the on-deck circle to a title shot one more time. He is in the same position last year when he came over to the UFC as the WEC Lightweight Champion, then took a fight against Clay Guida and lost to Guida, and his opportunity for a title fight. The best bet would be to wait, but knowing Pettis (and the UFC) from past history, he may take a fight against another top contender. My money would be a fight against Gray Maynard. It makes sense as both are in the title hunt, with Pettis closing in on his shot, and Maynard having had two chances in the last year to get the championship. That makes the most sense. The only problem is that Pettis needs to win this time while waiting for his opportunity, because if not, he'll be back to square one.
Kazuyuki Fujita Masakatsu Funaki Zelg Benkei Galesic Mauro Galvao Arman Gambaryan
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