‘Showtime’ Pettis Down For Scrap With ‘Irrelevant’ Nate Diaz

Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis has not fought since losing his title to Rafael dos Anjos at March’s UFC 185 event in Dallas.

Pettis was scheduled to compete against Myles Jury at this weekend’s UFC on FOX 16 card in Chicago, but was forced to withdraw from the event with an injury.

“Showtime” was recently interviewed by ‘Talking Brawls’, where he discussed his return to the cage and who he would like as his next opponent:

“I don’t really care,” Pettis told Talking Brawls. “As long as it gets me that next title shot. If Khabib’s [Nurmagomedov] healthy and he’s next in line, that’s who I want. Or Nate Diaz. I’ve been calling him out, as well. Diaz has been talking a lot of s**t.”

Diaz has been very vocal about Pettis’ injury struggles while with the UFC, saying that the former champ is “made from glass” on frequent occasion. Anthony is tired of Diaz’s s**t talking, and wants to shut him up for good:

“He’s not relevant at all but it’s personal,” Pettis said of Diaz. “When someone talks crap to me in my face I need to address that. Where I grew up that doesn’t happen. He just talks s**t. When I walk past him he has something to say. In Mexico City he had a few words, but it was by the media event. He runs over, gets on the camera and stays relevant. I don’t play into that. If he wants to fight, let’s set it up. I’m not afraid to fight this dude. He’s not even top ten.”

With Pettis ranked No. 1 and Diaz at No. 14, the potential bout may not make sense to UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, but Pettis still wants to “Whoop Diaz’s Ass”:

“It doesn’t make sense for me but the fact that it’s personal is why I want that fight,” said Pettis. “I want to whoop his ass. That’s it.”

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