Pettis talks eventual move from WEC to UFC
Kalin Johnston: You’re fighting Shane Roller at WEC 50 who recently tapped out AP Njokuani. How do you prepare for…
Kalin Johnston: You’re fighting Shane Roller at WEC 50 who recently tapped out AP Njokuani. How do you prepare for someone who has a ground game at the caliber of Shane’s?
Anthony Pettis: I don’t think Shane Roller is that great on the ground. He just has a good rear naked choke. He does it to everybody. I’m confident and comfortable on the ground. I’m not threatened by his ground game. His take downs is what I have to watch out for. I can’t let him hold me and get ahead on the score cards. I’m really working on my take down defense. The fight starts on the feet so he’ll get to see my stand up.
KJ: Your only loss in MMA was a split decision loss to Bart Palaszewski. Do you feel you won that fight?
AP: I know I won the fight, but I let it go to the judges scorecards. Bart did a good job. He stayed in the fight the whole time. I would of finished it if I had a couple more seconds, but he is a tough dude. He took a lot of punishment and I feel that I won that fight. The whole crowd in attendance knew that I won the fight. I fought on short notice just two months after my previous fight where I messed up my shoulder and that had a big effect on me.
KJ: A lot of people are calling you one of the hottest lightweight prospects right now. Where do you see your career going in the next couple of years?
AP: Two to three years from now I hope to have that WEC belt around my waist. I’ll want to either be defending that or moving towards that UFC belt.
KJ: How long from now will it take until we see you in the UFC?
AP: I’ve only been with the WEC for a year and I’m already in title contention. If I keep this up then I see myself going to the UFC next year.
KJ: You have that Jon Jones syndrome going on where nobody knew who you were to now just a year later everybody is talking about you. How does it feel to have that success?
AP: It’s crazy man. I went to the fan expo in Vegas last year and nobody knew who I was. I went again this year and I had people asking to get a picture with me and getting my autograph. I’m honored.