Anthony Pettis Prepared for UFC 223, “I’m not in this to have guys make their names off of me”

It’s been a rough past couple of years for the former UFC lightweight champion and last WEC lightweight champion, Anthony “Showtime” Pettis.

Since starting his UFC career off 5-1 and winning the title, Pettis has gone a disappointing 2-5 which also included a very brief stint at featherweight.

At the time of his reign, Pettis was considered one of the very best in the world and hopes to get back to that point someday and it starts with Michael Chiesa at UFC 223 in Brooklyn, New York.

Former UFC lightweight champ @ShowtimePettis opens up about his recent losses and dealing with critics. Watch #TheMMAHour live: https://t.co/11sYrEm5Ug pic.twitter.com/YcvcPcAQw9

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) March 19, 2018

“I’m the biggest critic of myself. Even the [Jim] Miller fight wasn’t a great performance. I mean, I did well, it wasn’t my best performance. I just feel like it’s coming. It’s gonna take some time and hopefully this is the time where I can come back and feel like myself.

The theory that I would have had going into those last couple fights is I would chase that gold, I was trying to get to that belt immediately. ‘Who’s that next fight to get me to the belt?’ Just fixing the holes in my game and just getting my mind and mental preparation better. 

I definitely want title shots, i’m not in this to be a gatekeeper, i’m not in this to have guys make their name off of me. I’ve been the best in the world, I know I can do it. It’s just taking my time and getting back there the right way.”

UFC 223 takes place on April 7th and also plays host to plenty of other fun lightweight matchups. Most notably is obviously the main event which is for the lightweight championship as interim champion, Tony Ferguson looks to finally hand Khabib Nurmagomedov his very first career loss and become the new undisputed champion.

Can Pettis work his way back into the elite of 155-pounds or has the division passed him by?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/19/2018.