This past Saturday night at the UFC on FOX 13 show, Rafael Dos Anjos dominanted Nick Diaz over three rounds to earn a win and to catapult his way to the top of the lightweight rankings. Dos Anjos will likely get the next title shot against Anthony Pettis as he is now riding a very impressive streak winning eight of his last nine fights.
The only person to beat him is undefeated Dagestani fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov, but Nurmagomedov is nursing a knee injury and is unlikely to be ready for a bout with Pettis in the desired April or May time frame. Pettis appears to be healthy and ready to go after fighting Gilbert Melendez in early December, so it appears him and Dos Anjos are on a collision course.
Pettis is a potential UFC poster boy, and after submitting Melendez, he will likely come in against Dos Anjos a solid favorite at the books. Pettis is going to have length and reach advantages over the stockier Dos Anjos. Though Dos Anjos did well in outstriking Nate Diaz, who is known for his high punch count and strong boxing, he is not likely to want to tangle with Pettis too long on the feet. Pettis brings a lot more variety and danger than Diaz does. Dos Anjos is going to want to get it to the ground, where he showed he can control a long opponent with tricky jiu-jitsu like Diaz.
For Pettis, as long as he stays healthy, you can count on the UFC to keep him in the spotlight. Among the title holders, he has the best and most affable of personalities as well as all the tools in the cage. They don’t get that with Cain Velasquez, who is quiet, or Jon Jones who can be churlish.
Dos Anjos will go into the fight firmly in the spoiler role. Nurmagomedov is probably more deserving of the next shot at Pettis, so Dos Anjos can hopefully find motivation in the fact that he will not get any respect before this fight despite having compiled and excellent record.
Check the UFC’s ‘Signature Moves’ with the UFC Lightweight Champion, Anthony Pettis:
