Anthony Pettis will return in September, eyes Nate Diaz over UFC 150 bout with Donald Cerrone

After beating Jeremy Stephens on Tuesday at UFC on Fuel TV 3, Donald Cerrone eyed Anthony Pettis as his next challenge in the crowded UFC Lightweight division. He was hoping for the fight to take place in his home state of Colorado at UFC 150 on August 11th. However, Pettis’s manager announced today that this would not be happening and his client will be fighting next in September, possibly at UFC 151.

“Showtime” is recovering from shoulder surgery, and will not be able to make UFC 150 at one-hundred percent. He had the procedure done earlier this year after his impressive headkick knockout of Joe Lauzon at UFC 144 last February. It was a minor procedure to repair his shoulder and he has his sights on early September’s UFC 151 as a return date. Apparently, Pettis is not against facing Cerrone, who were both in the WEC together before it was absorbed by the UFC.

However, there is another fighter that Anthony Pettis would rather face: Nate Diaz. The surging Diaz was promised a title shot by Dana White after submitting Jim Miller at UFC on Fox 3, a man who had never been finished before. Perhaps Pettis is holding onto the hope that Diaz will not want to wait for the winner of Ben Henderson-Frankie Edgar II at UFC 150, and accept his challenge. The winner of a Pettis-Diaz bout would almost surely come out with a title shot as his next fight.

Who will Antony Pettis face next? Either Diaz or Cerrone could potentially produce a Fight of the Night bonus. With a backup towards the top of the UFC Lightweight division, who is the most deserving of the next title shot?

Further Reading: Anthony Pettis: I match up well with Nate Diaz