“Showtime” denies he is helping Cerrone train for dos Anjos title fight

Rafael dos Anjos has a giant target on his back now that he has the UFC Lightweight Championship slung over his shoulder. The Brazilian defeated Anthony “Showtime” Pettis for the strap at UFC 185 in March and has been sidelined with an injury ever since. Now, he is set to defend his championship for the first time with fan-favorite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC on FOX 17 on December 19th.

Anthony Pettis has since taken some time off from action as well and is eyeing a 2016 return to the octagon when he meets Eddie Alvarez at UFC Fight Night 81. In the meantime, it was believed that the former champion would help “Cowboy” prepare for his fight with dos Anjos. Cerrone made the claim during The Joe Rogan Experience, but “Showtime” claims this is not the case.

“No, that’s not true at all,” Pettis admitted during a recent Q&A session. “He made a comment at a fight saying if I was fighting Khabib (Nurmagomedov) that he was going to – he hates that guy and would help me train for Khabib. I was like, ‘You got RDA next.’ He took what I said and put it out there like I was going to help him train.”

If Cerrone avenges his loss to Dos Anjos and Pettis emerges victorious against Alvarez, we could see a potential meeting between the two. “I’m possibly fighting this dude again, and he was talking big stuff when I fought him before,” Pettis said. “So I’m definitely not helping him out training.”

If Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis were to duke it out for the UFC Lightweight Championship, who do you think would walk out with their hand raised? Would it be a fight of the year candidate? Share your thoughts and make your predictions in the comment section below!

Transcribed by MMA Junkie