Anthony Pettis: Clay Guida Exposed A Hole In My Game
UFC lightweight title challenger Anthony Pettis has had an absolute rollercoaster ride of a summer. He was forced to withdraw from his huge featherweight title bout against Jose Aldo when he injured his knee training with Phil Davis. Ultimately, however, it may have been a blessing in disguise, as Pettis finds himself in his biggest possible matchup.
Set to face off with UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson in the main event of UFC 164 on August 31st from his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pettis will look to defeat Henderson for a second time. He famously took “Smooth” out in the last ever WEC bout back in late 2010, closing down the promotion as its last 155 lb. champion.
It was the last time Henderson lost, and it’s hard to argue that it wasn’t a turning point that left the current 155 lb. kingpin with a huge chip on his shoulder. That performance also earned Pettis a promised UFC title shot when he made the transition to the octagon, but when former division champ Frankie Edgar became entrenched in a long, drawn-out rivalry with Gray Maynard, Pettis decided to take another fight.
He lost to Clay Guida’s gritty wrestling style, and was sent sliding down the rankings. That loss soon lead him to a turning point of him own. Speaking to MMA Fight Corner, Pettis admits that he was exposed and had to round out his overall game:
“I fight a guy like Clay Guida and it exposes a hole in my game,” stated Pettis. “That was probably one of the toughest and biggest parts of my career. That’s when I decided to become a student of the game and learn everything I needed to learn so my athleticism matches my skills.”
There’s no doubt that Pettis has done just that, slugging his way to impressive victories over lightweight stalwarts such as Joe Lauzon and Donald Cerrone on his way to the No. 1 contender slot. He and Henderson are on a collision course nearly three years in the making, and Pettis seems eager to put an end to his rival’s reign, one that he deems a bit too safe:
“You see a lot of champions becoming point fighters,” Pettis said. “These guys want to keep their belts and there’s two sides of that story. Every challenger is very talented. It’s going to take a factor to change that to have somebody dominate these fights. That’s what I’m looking to do. I want be the guy that goes out there and gives the fans a show. That’s what it’s all about at the end of the day. I strive to be that different fighter and set myself apart from the group.”
Indeed Pettis is a man who sets himself apart from the pack with his dynamic and unique striking ability. Henderson, on the other hand, has been derided for taking each of his UFC victories to the judges’ scorecards. It’s a style that has put him into several controversial decisions, and isn’t the most popular with fans.
Still, it’s effective, and he’ll be the champ until someone figures it out. Pettis has the talent to do that, and he’s done it before. Fighting Henderson in his hometown is quite the far cry from battling it out with Jose Aldo in Rio de Janeiro. Will Pettis take advantage of the huge opportunity and deliver the gold to all of his Milwaukee brethren?
