Cerrone vs. Pettis targeted for UFC on Jan. 26

An anticipated lightweight matchup between Donald (Cowboy) Cerrone and Anthony (Showtime) Pettis is being targeted for a Jan. 26 UFC event.

According to MMAJunkie, the event could potentially end up being UFC on FOX 6 with Chicago being the host city — as it was for UFC on FOX 2.

Cerrone (19-4, 1 NC) is coming off a 76-second knockout win over his friend and former teammate Melvin Guillard at UFC 150 in August.

Prior to his fight with Guillard, Cerrone told Sportsnet.ca that he disliked Pettis, has wanted to fight him for a long time and accused Pettis and his team of ducking him in the past.

Pettis (15-2) hasn’t competed since a head-kick knockout of Joe Lauzon at UFC 144 in February, recovering from a variety of injuries including a shoulder injury that required surgery.

The last ever World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight champion, who is the only fighter in the last five years to beat current UFC champ Benson Henderson, denies avoiding Cerrone and has also expressed his desire to fight his fellow WEC alumnus.

Pettis is currently ranked fifth on Sportsnet.ca’s lightweight rankings and Cerrone is right behind him at No. 6.

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