Anthony Pettis on Grey Maynard: "He might be a little jealous of my levels of success so fast."
by Adam McGuire on May 20, 2011

"I feel like he might be a little jealous of my levels of success so fast. I'm probably the most popular UFC fighter that hasn't fought in the UFC yet. I feel bad for all the guys in the WEC, he's downgrading all the WEC fighters who are doing very well in the UFC." -Anthony "Showtime" Pettis via Heavy.com

Anthony Pettis responds to recent criticisms levied by UFC lightweight contender Gray Maynard regarding the quality of opponents he's faced. In a recent interview right here at FiveKnuckles.com, Maynard stated his belief that Pettis hasn't faced the same caliber of opponents as he, and in his opinion, the other top tier lightweights in the world have.

WEC lightweights have fared well since being integrated into the UFC. Henderson, Shane Roller, and Danny Castillo all have won their first matches against UFC vets, and all were defeated by Pettis.

Maynard was set to challenge lightweight champ Frankie Edgar in a rematch at UFC 131, but injuries forced the bout to be removed from the card. The fight is now rumored to take place sometime around September.

Pettis, who was supposed to challenge the winner of the UFC 125 title match between Edgar and Maynard, has since been slated to face off against Clay Guida at the TUF 13 Finale on June 4. A victory over Guida should put Pettis back in the number one contender slot and in position to face either Edgar or Maynard sometime toward the end of the year.

 |  (19) Comments flyangler: Grey is not making many friends, this is after all, the fight business, though. I'd like to see Pettis kick his butt. Lay'n'PrayNINJA: My gut tells me Pettis submits Maynard in the 2nd or 3rd round. Maynard has strength, and maybe a slight wrestling edge, but those are his only advantages over Pettis. Showtime may not have an amateur pedigree like Maynard, but he has out wrestled "wrastlers" with equal or better amateur pedigrees than Maynards, in MMA. Shane Roller. Elvis Freshley: I think Pettis would get manhandled by Gray. Pettis is an exciting fighter but to me he lacks a technical polish or any real stand out part of his game --except of course a pretty damn awesome kick to add to his high light real. I think Gray would just bully him -heh- into a dominant and one sided UD. I'd be more interested in a Pettis/Edgar fight as I think it'd be more fun to watch than a Pettis/Maynard match...but I don't really have Showtime beating either of them. I actually think he loses to Guida by UD anyway so it doesn't really matter. D_V: roller is not the best mma wrestler. Gray is also significantly bigger. He could likely win with top control. he's tough to sub too. he's really strong. GO HARD: lets not downgrade Pettis tho. the kid has all the tools to beat Gray thug4less: A comment on the article that I'd like to make is that Pettis is absolutely right. Maynard does come across as jealous of Pettis' success. It's not hard to see that guys like Maynard see guys coming in from outside the UFC and either immediately getting title shots or thrown into a #1 contender's match while they've been plugging away for years. You know that has to eat at them and so it's natural to want to talk them down. GO HARD: i hate to say it but.... most improtantly... Pettis has IT FACTOR!! hahahahahahaha. but Pettis doesnt hold back, he goes for it... gotta love that in the LW division. Pettis vs Miller would have been awesome i think. Elvis Freshley: I think Pettis could be competitive with every LW in the division, the kid brings it but I do honestly believe that his fight against Gray would be similar to Kenny's. Kenny has outwrestled wrestlers, has a good striking game -though IMO more technical than Pettis' but I'll give Pettis the edge in dynamic striking-. Who is to say that Kenny just choked and who isn't to say that Gray is just that good? He's man handled every one not named Frankie Edgar on the ground--and that was after man handling Frankie on the ground in the first fight. Gray is without a doubt the most powerful wrestler at 155 and that wrestling stands to hold him victory over many a fighters. The only fighter I think has a favorable match up against Gray at 155 is BJ due to his freak take down defense and great BJJ game. Pettis TD defense is not Penn level, his wrestling is not Edgar level, and his striking definitely is not as technical as either of those two. Gray would maul him. IwishIwasMMA: DV didnt mean literally "he is not the best wrestler" but more like saying it as the saying goes.. Like "JJW is not the best mod", but he is a good mod, just that he doubts he is the best. You guys I believe are taking it out of the context he is saying it in.
HOW WILL THE THIAGO ALVES VS. MARTIN KAMPMANN FIGHT END AT UFC ON FX 2?
Alves def. Kampmann via TKO/KO
Alves def. Kampmann via submission
Alves def. Kampmann via decision
Kampmann def. Alves via TKO/KO
Kampmann def. Alves via submission
Kampmann def. Alves via decision
TAKE ANOTHER POLL!