Anthony Pettis Calls Out Diego Sanchez

In the last two years, Anthony Pettis has fought some of the most exciting names in the UFC lightweight and welterweight divisions. Most recently, Nate Diaz. Although Pettis came up short in their UFC 241 co-main event, losing a unanimous decision, he says he’s still feeling in a ‘good spot right now’.

A month on from UFC 241, and Pettis already knows who he wants to fight next. And it’s safe to say that it’s another fight the fans would love to see. Talking to MMA Junkie, ‘Showtime’ said he wants to face Diego Sanchez next, before the end of the year.

“I’m a good spot right now where I could make 155. Like the Nate Diaz fight, I only fought him at 176 pounds. I only gained six pounds with my weight cut. I want Diego Sanchez. That’s what I told Duke.

“One more fight before the end of the year. I tell myself three big fights this year. He’s available. At 155, there’s no one available for me. I want to stay busy.”

In recent years, the former UFC lightweight champion appears to have changed his mindset from chasing UFC gold for a second time, to putting on fights that will get the fans really excited.

“I feel like especially the fans want to see it. That’s what it’s all about. If the fans want to see the fights I choose, then it works out. Look who I just fought. From [Tony] Ferguson, ‘Wonderboy’ [Thompson], Nate Diaz … even before that, I was fighting killers.”

Although Pettis hasn’t discussed his idea with the UFC yet, he said he has spoken to UFC president Dana White.

“I haven’t talked to the UFC yet. I reached out to Dana about it. They’re supposed to have a matchmaker meeting, so if it works out, it works out. If not, we’ll find out. There’s a lot of good guys, but I feel like Diego deserves that kind of fight. He’s been around a long time.”

Like Pettis, both of Sanchez’s fights in 2019 were at welterweight. And both are coming off losses. Having TKO’d Mickey Gall at UFC 235, Sanchez lost to Michael Chiesa at UFC 239, via unanimous decision. Before Pettis lost to Diaz last month, the 32 year old scored a spectacular knockout finish of Stephen Thompson at UFC Nashville.

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