Anthony Pettis was the best lightweight in mixed martial arts a few years ago. Then he wasn’t. Then he tried his hand at featherweight, found moderate success and even and earned an interim title shot. Then he moved back to lightweight. Now, it appears as though the former 155-pound champion will attempt to make an impact in a third weight class.
According to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, Pettis has agreed to make his 170-pound debut in March when he faces perennial welterweight contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson at an upcoming UFC Fight Night event.
The UFC has yet to officially announce the bout, but Helwani reported Tuesday the event is expected to take place March 23 in Nashville.
Pettis (21-8) is coming off a thrilling Fight of the Night performance against Tony Ferguson at UFC 229 this past October. The former UFC and WEC champ was on the losing end after his corner called a stop to the bout prior to the final round. The soon-to-be-32-year-old finding success at welterweight is not a farfetched idea. His most recent victory was a submission over Michael Chiesa in July. Chiesa recently made the move up to 170 pounds, defeating former interim UFC champ Carlos Condit rather handily at UFC 232 in December. Pettis has one career welterweight contest on his record — a 2008 technical knockout of Gabe Walbridge in the final fight prior to Pettis making his World Extreme Cagefighting debut.
Thompson (14-3-1) hasn’t fought since his controversial unanimous decision loss to Darren Till in May of 2018. The bout, for which Till missed weight by four pounds, happened to take place in Till’s hometown of Liverpool, England.
Thompson is currently the No. 4-ranked contender in the welterweight division, according to the UFC’s official rankings. The karate-style striker fought current welterweight champion Tyron Woodley to a draw in 2016 and holds notable victories over current UFC middleweight kingpin Robert Whittaker, former welterweight champ Johny Hendricks, and current Bellator welterweight champ Rory MacDonald among others.
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