Maynard: I’m on a collision course with Pettis
Maynard was in attendance this past weekend in Chicago when the former WEC lightweight champion steamrolled Donald Cerrone in their…
Maynard was in attendance this past weekend in Chicago when the former WEC lightweight champion steamrolled Donald Cerrone in their showdown at UFC on Fox 6. The first-round TKO win over “Cowboy” put Pettis in the position to wait for the winner of Henderson versus Melendez at UFC on Fox 7 in April.
While Maynard doesn’t discount the importance of having a title shot hanging in the future, he also knows firsthand how much can go wrong in the process. Fighters get injured, rematches happen and if Pettis’ shot at the crown is pushed back, Maynard extended the invitation to punch his dance ticket.
“Pettis is the fight I would love to have,” Maynard told Bleacher Report. “At the same time, I understand why he would wait for a title shot. That is what we are all working towards and if that is on his plate then I get sitting out. But things rarely go as planned in this game and if something happens as a result of the Henderson vs. Melendez fight and Pettis decides he’s tired of waiting then I’d be happy to oblige him. The way I see it, whether it happens now or later, Pettis and I are on a collision course.
“He does some exciting things inside the cage and I think it would be a great challenge trying to solve that puzzle. I watched him beat Cerrone this weekend, but “Cowboy’s” style was the perfect matchup for Pettis to do what he does best. Cerrone comes forward with a straight up and down Muay Thai-style and Pettis was able to dictate space and get off on him. That’s not the way I fight and I think I would present some difficult challenges for him.”