Fighter of the Month: February 2012 – Anthony Pettis
By Justin Bolduc
Fighter of the Month: Anthony Pettis
Event: UFC 144 Japan (February 22, 2012)
Opponent: Joe Lauzon
Result: First Round KO
Anthony Pettis joined the UFC having won the WEC lightweight championship in not only the promotion’s last event, but its last bout. Pettis won a close, but exciting decision over Ben Henderson and joined the UFC expecting to challenge for the title. Instead then-champion Frank Edgar and Gray Maynard were poised to fight for a third time.
So Pettis fought Clay Guida with the prospect of challenging for the UFC lightweight title, but was outpointed by the wrestling-centric former Strikeforce champion. Pettis rebounded with a split decision win over Jeremy Stephens before being matched up against Joe Lauzon.
The win came fast and emphatically. Pettis threw a kick early that was blocked, before avoiding a Lauzon combination. Pettis then threw a punch combination followed by a roundhouse kick which landed cleanly for the knockout only eighty-one seconds into the bout.
The win earned Pettis knockout of the night honors and moves him back up the lightweight ladder. While nothing is lined-up for Pettis yet, there are many exciting possibilities such as Melvin Guillard, Takanori Gomi, Donald Cerrone, Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira or a possible rematch and title shot against Benson Henderson.
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