Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight champion Anthony Pettis recently caught everyone by surprise when he called for a fight against Welterweight contender Stephen Thompson.
Not one to sit idly by, “Wonderboy” took “Showtime” up on his challenge, promising a “highlight reel” showdown. And it seems UFC matchmakers are all for it, as ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reveals the bout is currently in the works
“Stephen Thompson vs. Anthony Pettis at 170 pounds is verbally agreed to for the March 23 fight night event, which is expected to be in Nashville,” said Ariel. “Fight isn’t signed just yet but expected to be finalized shortly.”
A million times yes.
Both Pettis and Thompson are known for their outstanding technical striking and have the the resume to prove it. Anthony is coming off a tough loss to Tony Ferguson at UFC 223, losing via technical knockout after suffering a broken hand early on in the fight, prompting his corner to throw in the towel.
The bout was good enough to win UFC’s “Fight of the Year” award.
As for Thompson, he hasn’t competed in eight months after coming up short against Darren Till in Liverpool, England. Since both “Wonderboy” and “Showtime” aren’t anywhere near title contention at the moment, a “fight for the fans” sounds like a good deal.
If and when the fight does come to fruition, it will be the third weight class Pettis has competed in, as not only did he have a good run at 155 pounds but also tried his hand in the Featherweight division. While it isn’t clear if Anthony is simply moving up for a one-off or a permanent move, the showdown should be an entertaining one to say the least.
Early predictions?
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