Tony Ferguson vs. Anthony Pettis: What Will Go Down:

The winner of this clash will certainly ink their name for a future clash with Khabib or Conor.

The stacked UFC 229 not only features the current Lightweight and former division kings in the main event as Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor finally throw leather, but another pair of one time 155lbs bests meet in the event's co headliner as grappling ace Tony 'El Cucuy' Ferguson returns from his April knee injury, against exciting striking specialist Anthony 'Showtime' Pettis.

Looking to extend his incredible ten fight win streak yet again, longtime division mainstay Ferguson secured an Interim crown against the dangerous Kevin Lee in his most recent UFC outing, slapping a triangle on the Las Vegas native, earning him a unification clash for the vacant championship against Khabib at UFC 223, but a much speculated April fool's day news story broke, Ferguson had in fact tore his LCL after tripping over a monitor cable whilst carrying out media obligations ahead of his Barclays Centre appearance. Last minute replacement Max Holloway seen his weight cut ultimately halted due to health concerns, and on just 24 hour notice, then #11 ranked Lightweight contender 'Raging' Al Iaquinta accepted a clash with undefeated phenom Nurmagomedov. Despite an admirable performance, Iaquinta, a national wrestler was taken down on cue by Combat Sambo champion Khabib, six times from fifteen shots. Ultimately, Ferguson who arrived to the media day face-offs with his Interim crown in toe, feels he could be the man headlining this card against McGregor, with the Big Bear favourite a tough stylistic match up for 'The Eagle' in my opinion.



Enduring the toughest stint of his professional mixed-martial arts career in recent years, one time WEC and UFC Lightweight kingpin Anthony 'Showtime' Pettis recently returned to winning ways with an eye catching triangle armbar victory over Michael Chiesa. The Roufusport product has an immense, often overlooked Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu base, but in fights alongside Joe Lauzon, Danny Castillo and veteran 'Cowboy' Cerrone, the Milwaukee native used his frantic Taekwondo ability to dispatch the trio. Both Pettis brothers feature at UFC229, with younger sibling Sergio Pettis meeting Brazil's Jussier Formiga in an important Flyweight three rounder.

Despite Ferguson's tendency to fight 'long' and stick with a lengthy jab used in the Rafael dos Anjos fight, I believe 'Showtime' may hold the trump card in any striking exchanges, particularly in the pocket. One thing Ferguson will bring on Saturday night is his constant offensive pressure and long combinations while both men bring a resounding offensive grappling background with triangles a staple for each while 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu protege Ferguson holds a wicked d'arce. Pettis is arguably the more creative and dynamic between the pair with a wide array of kicking techniques in his arsenal.

Another posing question in this one is the current condition of Ferguson's knee. Returning for the first time since April, I'd imagine Pettis to target calf kicks particularly on the inside to buckle 'El Cucuy{s}' knee, aided also by the incorporation of oblique kicks which will hyper extend and eventually halt forward pressure from the Oxnard native.

I think Pettis manages to get the job done against Tony and continue his resurgence to a potential second title tilt.

Anthony Pettis via split decision.

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