Countdown To UFC 181: Anthony Pettis vs. Gilbert Melendez

UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis will fight for the first time since winning the belt when he meets former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez in the co-main event of this Saturday night’s (December 6, 2014) UFC 181 pay-per-view (PPV) from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Showtime” tore the PCL in his knee during his title-clinching submission win over Benson Henderson in the main event of UFC 164 in late August 2013. His recovery took significantly more time than was originally proposed; a time period that was only lengthened when Pettis signed on to coach The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 20 opposite Melendez.

But “El Nino” has been out of the cage for almost as long, his last fight a classic unanimous decision win over Diego Sanchez at UFC 166 in October 2013. That fight was deemed one of the best fights of last year, yet Pettis has repeatedly stated that he won’t engage in anything remotely close to an all-out brawl.

There are many questions to be answered for both fighters, as the lightweight division has definitely evolved in their absence. Whoever wins the belt at UFC 181 will have some serious work to do, and it remains to be seen if Pettis can stay healthy long enough to put together a string of successful title defenses.

That makes this bout quite the high-stakes affair. Check out the all-new Countdown to UFC 181: Anthony Pettis vs. Gilbert Melendez below:

Photo Credit: Benny Sieu for USA TODAY Sports