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NASHVILLE – Newly minted UFC welterweight contender Anthony Pettis doesn’t linger on Twitter. But a message from Conor McGregor will sure get his attention.
The former two-division champ stayed true to recent form by hopping on social media to invite a colleague to fight.
Of course, Pettis (22-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) would love to take up a challenge from “Notorious.”
“That’s a fun fight,” he told MMA Junkie after a stunning knockout of Stephen Thompson (14-4-1 MMA, 9-4-1 UFC) in the headliner of UFC on ESPN+ 6, which took place Saturday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. “(He’s) another guy that I love his style, another guy that’s going to be a fun style to fight.
“If he wants to do it, let’s do it. I’m not afraid to fight anybody.”
Pettis doesn’t follow McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) on social media, so that’s the extent of his emotional investment in the fight.
“If it’s not him, then the next guy in line,” he said.
His main priority for 2019 is three big fights. With one already in the books, he’d like the second one to take place at UFC 239. The International Fight Week card is prime placement for any fighter and guarantees eyeballs that could influence the opportunities one receives.
Then again, after such an impressive knockout, it seems as though Pettis is in the driver’s seat at welterweight – which, by the way, is where he’d like to fight McGregor.
“We’re both natural, I think, there,” Pettis said. “If it’s not for a title, why cut?”
For the record, Pettis also flirted with a trip back to the lightweight division, where the former champ would like a shot at the winner of an upcoming headliner between Justin Gaethje and Edson Barboza at next week’s UFC on ESPN 2. He also called for a rematch with Rafael dos Anjos, who took his lightweight title and now resides at welterweight.
There appear to be plenty of options Pettis would entertain. All he asks is that they be big opportunities that thrill fans – and no doubt pay handsomely.
To hear more from Pettis, check out the video above.
For complete coverage of UFC on ESPN+ 6, check out the UFC Events section of the site.
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