Anthony Pettis hospitalized with staph infection | UFC News

UFC lightweight contender Anthony “Showtime” Pettis just can’t seem to stay out of the hospital.

The former WEC lightweight champion, Pettis, has been plagued by a shoulder injury for more than a year. He recently “went under the knife” to repair the damaged shoulder and was expecting to return to the UFC octagon in January of 2013.

Yesterday, Anthony was re-admitted to a hospital in Milwaukee, this after a staph infection was discovered in his elbow. If there is any good news in this, it’s that Pettis is not expected to face any serious side effects from the infection.

“Showtime” has not fought since February 25, when he knocked out Joe Lauzon in the first round at UFC 144 in Japan. 

Pettis is expected to square off with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in January of 2013. The bout is widely expected to serve as a number one contender eliminator match, with the winner facing either Benson Henderson or Nate Diaz, depending on who comes out of UFC on Fox 5 the champion. “Showtime” and “Cowboy” have participated in a long-running verbal feud, with Cerrone accusing Pettis of trying to avoid him.

Here’s to hoping that Anthony is able to make a speedy recovery.