Anthony has had a question mark over his head for quite some time. He is an excellent striker with loads of talent, but is he truly the best lightweight fighter in the world? The loss to Clay Guida in his octagon debut highlighted some major holes in his ground game. Also, beating Benson Henderson twice didnt earn him as much credit as it should have and missing fourteen months due to injury raised questions about his durability. On Saturday night, Anthony Pettis didnt just beat Gilbert Melendez, he finished him with a guillotine choke. That speaks volumes because he accomplished what no other fighter has done before to such a dangerous opponent. Melendez often finds victory by controlling the pace and grinding his opponents. The fact that the Gracie Jujitsu black belt was finished with such poise from a kickboxer by nature is a statement that Pettis has evolved. UFC has a prized thoroughbred on their hands. Finishing a murders row of fighters in four consecutive outings sends a strong message to everyone that the word potential no longer applies to champion as it is now Showtime.
Atlee Greene is a freelance writer for various sites, including ForcesOfGeek.com, Gerweck.net, CamelClutchBlog.com, and WhatCulture.com. He is also a former independent professional wrestler and promotes shows in the Massachusetts area.
